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Revision 1.113 by root, Mon Dec 31 01:30:53 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.339 by root, Sun Oct 31 22:19:38 2010 UTC

…		…
2		2
3	libev - a high performance full-featured event loop written in C	3	libev - a high performance full-featured event loop written in C
4		4
5	=head1 SYNOPSIS	5	=head1 SYNOPSIS
6		6
7	#include <ev.h>	7	#include <ev.h>
8		8
9	=head2 EXAMPLE PROGRAM	9	=head2 EXAMPLE PROGRAM
10		10
		11	// a single header file is required
11	#include <ev.h>	12	#include <ev.h>
12		13
		14	#include <stdio.h> // for puts
		15
		16	// every watcher type has its own typedef'd struct
		17	// with the name ev_TYPE
13	ev_io stdin_watcher;	18	ev_io stdin_watcher;
14	ev_timer timeout_watcher;	19	ev_timer timeout_watcher;
15		20
16	/* called when data readable on stdin */	21	// all watcher callbacks have a similar signature
		22	// this callback is called when data is readable on stdin
17	static void	23	static void
18	stdin_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_io *w, int revents)	24	stdin_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
19	{	25	{
20	/* puts ("stdin ready"); */	26	puts ("stdin ready");
21	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w); /* just a syntax example */	27	// for one-shot events, one must manually stop the watcher
22	ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ALL); /* leave all loop calls */	28	// with its corresponding stop function.
		29	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w);
		30
		31	// this causes all nested ev_run's to stop iterating
		32	ev_break (EV_A_ EVBREAK_ALL);
23	}	33	}
24		34
		35	// another callback, this time for a time-out
25	static void	36	static void
26	timeout_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	37	timeout_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
27	{	38	{
28	/* puts ("timeout"); */	39	puts ("timeout");
29	ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ONE); /* leave one loop call */	40	// this causes the innermost ev_run to stop iterating
		41	ev_break (EV_A_ EVBREAK_ONE);
30	}	42	}
31		43
32	int	44	int
33	main (void)	45	main (void)
34	{	46	{
35	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);	47	// use the default event loop unless you have special needs
		48	struct ev_loop *loop = EV_DEFAULT;
36		49
37	/* initialise an io watcher, then start it */	50	// initialise an io watcher, then start it
		51	// this one will watch for stdin to become readable
38	ev_io_init (&stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);	52	ev_io_init (&stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);
39	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);	53	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
40		54
		55	// initialise a timer watcher, then start it
41	/* simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout */	56	// simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout
42	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);	57	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
43	ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);	58	ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);
44		59
45	/* loop till timeout or data ready */	60	// now wait for events to arrive
46	ev_loop (loop, 0);	61	ev_run (loop, 0);
47		62
		63	// unloop was called, so exit
48	return 0;	64	return 0;
49	}	65	}
50		66
51	=head1 DESCRIPTION	67	=head1 ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
52		68
		69	This document documents the libev software package.
		70
53	The newest version of this document is also available as a html-formatted	71	The newest version of this document is also available as an html-formatted
54	web page you might find easier to navigate when reading it for the first	72	web page you might find easier to navigate when reading it for the first
55	time: L<http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.html>.	73	time: L<http://pod.tst.eu/http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.pod>.
		74
		75	While this document tries to be as complete as possible in documenting
		76	libev, its usage and the rationale behind its design, it is not a tutorial
		77	on event-based programming, nor will it introduce event-based programming
		78	with libev.
		79
		80	Familiarity with event based programming techniques in general is assumed
		81	throughout this document.
		82
		83	=head1 WHAT TO READ WHEN IN A HURRY
		84
		85	This manual tries to be very detailed, but unfortunately, this also makes
		86	it very long. If you just want to know the basics of libev, I suggest
		87	reading L<ANATOMY OF A WATCHER>, then the L<EXAMPLE PROGRAM> above and
		88	look up the missing functions in L<GLOBAL FUNCTIONS> and the C<ev_io> and
		89	C<ev_timer> sections in L<WATCHER TYPES>.
		90
		91	=head1 ABOUT LIBEV
56		92
57	Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a	93	Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a
58	file descriptor being readable or a timeout occurring), and it will manage	94	file descriptor being readable or a timeout occurring), and it will manage
59	these event sources and provide your program with events.	95	these event sources and provide your program with events.
60		96
…		…
70	=head2 FEATURES	106	=head2 FEATURES
71		107
72	Libev supports C<select>, C<poll>, the Linux-specific C<epoll>, the	108	Libev supports C<select>, C<poll>, the Linux-specific C<epoll>, the
73	BSD-specific C<kqueue> and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms	109	BSD-specific C<kqueue> and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms
74	for file descriptor events (C<ev_io>), the Linux C<inotify> interface	110	for file descriptor events (C<ev_io>), the Linux C<inotify> interface
75	(for C<ev_stat>), relative timers (C<ev_timer>), absolute timers	111	(for C<ev_stat>), Linux eventfd/signalfd (for faster and cleaner
76	with customised rescheduling (C<ev_periodic>), synchronous signals	112	inter-thread wakeup (C<ev_async>)/signal handling (C<ev_signal>)) relative
77	(C<ev_signal>), process status change events (C<ev_child>), and event	113	timers (C<ev_timer>), absolute timers with customised rescheduling
78	watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (C<ev_idle>,	114	(C<ev_periodic>), synchronous signals (C<ev_signal>), process status
79	C<ev_embed>, C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> watchers) as well as	115	change events (C<ev_child>), and event watchers dealing with the event
80	file watchers (C<ev_stat>) and even limited support for fork events	116	loop mechanism itself (C<ev_idle>, C<ev_embed>, C<ev_prepare> and
81	(C<ev_fork>).	117	C<ev_check> watchers) as well as file watchers (C<ev_stat>) and even
		118	limited support for fork events (C<ev_fork>).
82		119
83	It also is quite fast (see this	120	It also is quite fast (see this
84	L<benchmark|http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html> comparing it to libevent	121	L<benchmark|http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html> comparing it to libevent
85	for example).	122	for example).
86		123
87	=head2 CONVENTIONS	124	=head2 CONVENTIONS
88		125
89	Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration will	126	Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default (and most common)
90	be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info about	127	configuration will be described, which supports multiple event loops. For
91	various configuration options please have a look at B<EMBED> section in	128	more info about various configuration options please have a look at
92	this manual. If libev was configured without support for multiple event	129	B<EMBED> section in this manual. If libev was configured without support
93	loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of name C<loop>	130	for multiple event loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of
94	(which is always of type C<struct ev_loop *>) will not have this argument.	131	name C<loop> (which is always of type C<struct ev_loop *>) will not have
		132	this argument.
95		133
96	=head2 TIME REPRESENTATION	134	=head2 TIME REPRESENTATION
97		135
98	Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the	136	Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing
99	(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near	137	the (fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (in practice
100	the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is	138	somewhere near the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't
101	called C<ev_tstamp>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases	139	ask). This type is called C<ev_tstamp>, which is what you should use
102	to the C<double> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on	140	too. It usually aliases to the C<double> type in C. When you need to do
103	it, you should treat it as some floatingpoint value. Unlike the name	141	any calculations on it, you should treat it as some floating point value.
		142
104	component C<stamp> might indicate, it is also used for time differences	143	Unlike the name component C<stamp> might indicate, it is also used for
105	throughout libev.	144	time differences (e.g. delays) throughout libev.
		145
		146	=head1 ERROR HANDLING
		147
		148	Libev knows three classes of errors: operating system errors, usage errors
		149	and internal errors (bugs).
		150
		151	When libev catches an operating system error it cannot handle (for example
		152	a system call indicating a condition libev cannot fix), it calls the callback
		153	set via C<ev_set_syserr_cb>, which is supposed to fix the problem or
		154	abort. The default is to print a diagnostic message and to call C<abort
		155	()>.
		156
		157	When libev detects a usage error such as a negative timer interval, then
		158	it will print a diagnostic message and abort (via the C<assert> mechanism,
		159	so C<NDEBUG> will disable this checking): these are programming errors in
		160	the libev caller and need to be fixed there.
		161
		162	Libev also has a few internal error-checking C<assert>ions, and also has
		163	extensive consistency checking code. These do not trigger under normal
		164	circumstances, as they indicate either a bug in libev or worse.
		165
106		166
107	=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS	167	=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
108		168
109	These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the	169	These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the
110	library in any way.	170	library in any way.
…		…
113		173
114	=item ev_tstamp ev_time ()	174	=item ev_tstamp ev_time ()
115		175
116	Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the	176	Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the
117	C<ev_now> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp	177	C<ev_now> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp
118	you actually want to know.	178	you actually want to know. Also interesting is the combination of
		179	C<ev_update_now> and C<ev_now>.
119		180
120	=item ev_sleep (ev_tstamp interval)	181	=item ev_sleep (ev_tstamp interval)
121		182
122	Sleep for the given interval: The current thread will be blocked until	183	Sleep for the given interval: The current thread will be blocked until
123	either it is interrupted or the given time interval has passed. Basically	184	either it is interrupted or the given time interval has passed. Basically
124	this is a subsecond-resolution C<sleep ()>.	185	this is a sub-second-resolution C<sleep ()>.
125		186
126	=item int ev_version_major ()	187	=item int ev_version_major ()
127		188
128	=item int ev_version_minor ()	189	=item int ev_version_minor ()
129		190
…		…
140	as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually	201	as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
141	compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually	202	compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually
142	not a problem.	203	not a problem.
143		204
144	Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong	205	Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
145	version.	206	version (note, however, that this will not detect other ABI mismatches,
		207	such as LFS or reentrancy).
146		208
147	assert (("libev version mismatch",	209	assert (("libev version mismatch",
148	ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR	210	ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR
149	&& ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));	211	&& ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));
150		212
151	=item unsigned int ev_supported_backends ()	213	=item unsigned int ev_supported_backends ()
152		214
153	Return the set of all backends (i.e. their corresponding C<EV_BACKEND_*>	215	Return the set of all backends (i.e. their corresponding C<EV_BACKEND_*>
154	value) compiled into this binary of libev (independent of their	216	value) compiled into this binary of libev (independent of their
…		…
156	a description of the set values.	218	a description of the set values.
157		219
158	Example: make sure we have the epoll method, because yeah this is cool and	220	Example: make sure we have the epoll method, because yeah this is cool and
159	a must have and can we have a torrent of it please!!!11	221	a must have and can we have a torrent of it please!!!11
160		222
161	assert (("sorry, no epoll, no sex",	223	assert (("sorry, no epoll, no sex",
162	ev_supported_backends () & EVBACKEND_EPOLL));	224	ev_supported_backends () & EVBACKEND_EPOLL));
163		225
164	=item unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()	226	=item unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()
165		227
166	Return the set of all backends compiled into this binary of libev and also	228	Return the set of all backends compiled into this binary of libev and
167	recommended for this platform. This set is often smaller than the one	229	also recommended for this platform, meaning it will work for most file
		230	descriptor types. This set is often smaller than the one returned by
168	returned by C<ev_supported_backends>, as for example kqueue is broken on	231	C<ev_supported_backends>, as for example kqueue is broken on most BSDs
169	most BSDs and will not be autodetected unless you explicitly request it	232	and will not be auto-detected unless you explicitly request it (assuming
170	(assuming you know what you are doing). This is the set of backends that	233	you know what you are doing). This is the set of backends that libev will
171	libev will probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.	234	probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.
172		235
173	=item unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()	236	=item unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()
174		237
175	Returns the set of backends that are embeddable in other event loops. This	238	Returns the set of backends that are embeddable in other event loops. This
176	is the theoretical, all-platform, value. To find which backends	239	value is platform-specific but can include backends not available on the
177	might be supported on the current system, you would need to look at	240	current system. To find which embeddable backends might be supported on
178	C<ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for	241	the current system, you would need to look at C<ev_embeddable_backends ()
179	recommended ones.	242	& ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for recommended ones.
180		243
181	See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.	244	See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
182		245
183	=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))	246	=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))
184		247
185	Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the	248	Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the
186	semantics is identical - to the realloc C function). It is used to	249	semantics are identical to the C<realloc> C89/SuS/POSIX function). It is
187	allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when	250	used to allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero
188	memory needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some	251	when memory needs to be allocated (C<size != 0>), the library might abort
189	potentially destructive action. The default is your system realloc	252	or take some potentially destructive action.
190	function.	253
		254	Since some systems (at least OpenBSD and Darwin) fail to implement
		255	correct C<realloc> semantics, libev will use a wrapper around the system
		256	C<realloc> and C<free> functions by default.
191		257
192	You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,	258	You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,
193	free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,	259	free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,
194	or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.	260	or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.
195		261
196	Example: Replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then	262	Example: Replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then
197	retries).	263	retries (example requires a standards-compliant C<realloc>).
198		264
199	static void *	265	static void *
200	persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)	266	persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)
201	{	267	{
202	for (;;)	268	for (;;)
…		…
211	}	277	}
212		278
213	...	279	...
214	ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);	280	ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);
215		281
216	=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg));	282	=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg))
217		283
218	Set the callback function to call on a retryable syscall error (such	284	Set the callback function to call on a retryable system call error (such
219	as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string	285	as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string
220	indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this	286	indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this
221	callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no	287	callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the situation, no
222	matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the	288	matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the
223	requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff	289	requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff
224	(such as abort).	290	(such as abort).
225		291
226	Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.	292	Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.
…		…
235	...	301	...
236	ev_set_syserr_cb (fatal_error);	302	ev_set_syserr_cb (fatal_error);
237		303
238	=back	304	=back
239		305
240	=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP	306	=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING EVENT LOOPS
241		307
242	An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *>. The library knows two	308	An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *> (the C<struct> is
243	types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which supports signals and child	309	I<not> optional in this case unless libev 3 compatibility is disabled, as
244	events, and dynamically created loops which do not.	310	libev 3 had an C<ev_loop> function colliding with the struct name).
245		311
246	If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop	312	The library knows two types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which
247	in your main thread (or in a separate thread) and for each thread you	313	supports child process events, and dynamically created event loops which
248	create, you also create another event loop. Libev itself does no locking	314	do not.
249	whatsoever, so if you mix calls to the same event loop in different
250	threads, make sure you lock (this is usually a bad idea, though, even if
251	done correctly, because it's hideous and inefficient).
252		315
253	=over 4	316	=over 4
254		317
255	=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)	318	=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)
256		319
257	This will initialise the default event loop if it hasn't been initialised	320	This returns the "default" event loop object, which is what you should
258	yet and return it. If the default loop could not be initialised, returns	321	normally use when you just need "the event loop". Event loop objects and
259	false. If it already was initialised it simply returns it (and ignores the	322	the C<flags> parameter are described in more detail in the entry for
260	flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards).	323	C<ev_loop_new>.
		324
		325	If the default loop is already initialised then this function simply
		326	returns it (and ignores the flags. If that is troubling you, check
		327	C<ev_backend ()> afterwards). Otherwise it will create it with the given
		328	flags, which should almost always be C<0>, unless the caller is also the
		329	one calling C<ev_run> or otherwise qualifies as "the main program".
261		330
262	If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this	331	If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this
263	function.	332	function (or via the C<EV_DEFAULT> macro).
		333
		334	Note that this function is I<not> thread-safe, so if you want to use it
		335	from multiple threads, you have to employ some kind of mutex (note also
		336	that this case is unlikely, as loops cannot be shared easily between
		337	threads anyway).
		338
		339	The default loop is the only loop that can handle C<ev_child> watchers,
		340	and to do this, it always registers a handler for C<SIGCHLD>. If this is
		341	a problem for your application you can either create a dynamic loop with
		342	C<ev_loop_new> which doesn't do that, or you can simply overwrite the
		343	C<SIGCHLD> signal handler I<after> calling C<ev_default_init>.
		344
		345	Example: This is the most typical usage.
		346
		347	if (!ev_default_loop (0))
		348	fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");
		349
		350	Example: Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow
		351	environment settings to be taken into account:
		352
		353	ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);
		354
		355	=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)
		356
		357	This will create and initialise a new event loop object. If the loop
		358	could not be initialised, returns false.
		359
		360	Note that this function I<is> thread-safe, and one common way to use
		361	libev with threads is indeed to create one loop per thread, and using the
		362	default loop in the "main" or "initial" thread.
264		363
265	The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific	364	The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific
266	backends to use, and is usually specified as C<0> (or C<EVFLAG_AUTO>).	365	backends to use, and is usually specified as C<0> (or C<EVFLAG_AUTO>).
267		366
268	The following flags are supported:	367	The following flags are supported:
…		…
274	The default flags value. Use this if you have no clue (it's the right	373	The default flags value. Use this if you have no clue (it's the right
275	thing, believe me).	374	thing, believe me).
276		375
277	=item C<EVFLAG_NOENV>	376	=item C<EVFLAG_NOENV>
278		377
279	If this flag bit is ored into the flag value (or the program runs setuid	378	If this flag bit is or'ed into the flag value (or the program runs setuid
280	or setgid) then libev will I<not> look at the environment variable	379	or setgid) then libev will I<not> look at the environment variable
281	C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will	380	C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
282	override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is	381	override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is
283	useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work	382	useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work
284	around bugs.	383	around bugs.
285		384
286	=item C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>	385	=item C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>
287		386
288	Instead of calling C<ev_default_fork> or C<ev_loop_fork> manually after	387	Instead of calling C<ev_loop_fork> manually after a fork, you can also
289	a fork, you can also make libev check for a fork in each iteration by	388	make libev check for a fork in each iteration by enabling this flag.
290	enabling this flag.
291		389
292	This works by calling C<getpid ()> on every iteration of the loop,	390	This works by calling C<getpid ()> on every iteration of the loop,
293	and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop	391	and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop
294	iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my	392	iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my
295	Linux system for example, C<getpid> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence	393	GNU/Linux system for example, C<getpid> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence
296	without a syscall and thus I<very> fast, but my Linux system also has	394	without a system call and thus I<very> fast, but my GNU/Linux system also has
297	C<pthread_atfork> which is even faster).	395	C<pthread_atfork> which is even faster).
298		396
299	The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and	397	The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and
300	forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this	398	forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this
301	flag.	399	flag.
302		400
303	This flag setting cannot be overriden or specified in the C<LIBEV_FLAGS>	401	This flag setting cannot be overridden or specified in the C<LIBEV_FLAGS>
304	environment variable.	402	environment variable.
		403
		404	=item C<EVFLAG_NOINOTIFY>
		405
		406	When this flag is specified, then libev will not attempt to use the
		407	I<inotify> API for it's C<ev_stat> watchers. Apart from debugging and
		408	testing, this flag can be useful to conserve inotify file descriptors, as
		409	otherwise each loop using C<ev_stat> watchers consumes one inotify handle.
		410
		411	=item C<EVFLAG_SIGNALFD>
		412
		413	When this flag is specified, then libev will attempt to use the
		414	I<signalfd> API for it's C<ev_signal> (and C<ev_child>) watchers. This API
		415	delivers signals synchronously, which makes it both faster and might make
		416	it possible to get the queued signal data. It can also simplify signal
		417	handling with threads, as long as you properly block signals in your
		418	threads that are not interested in handling them.
		419
		420	Signalfd will not be used by default as this changes your signal mask, and
		421	there are a lot of shoddy libraries and programs (glib's threadpool for
		422	example) that can't properly initialise their signal masks.
305		423
306	=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)	424	=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)
307		425
308	This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as	426	This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as
309	libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,	427	libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,
310	but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when	428	but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when
311	using this backend. It doesn't scale too well (O(highest_fd)), but its	429	using this backend. It doesn't scale too well (O(highest_fd)), but its
312	usually the fastest backend for a low number of (low-numbered :) fds.	430	usually the fastest backend for a low number of (low-numbered :) fds.
313		431
314	To get good performance out of this backend you need a high amount of	432	To get good performance out of this backend you need a high amount of
315	parallelity (most of the file descriptors should be busy). If you are	433	parallelism (most of the file descriptors should be busy). If you are
316	writing a server, you should C<accept ()> in a loop to accept as many	434	writing a server, you should C<accept ()> in a loop to accept as many
317	connections as possible during one iteration. You might also want to have	435	connections as possible during one iteration. You might also want to have
318	a look at C<ev_set_io_collect_interval ()> to increase the amount of	436	a look at C<ev_set_io_collect_interval ()> to increase the amount of
319	readyness notifications you get per iteration.	437	readiness notifications you get per iteration.
		438
		439	This backend maps C<EV_READ> to the C<readfds> set and C<EV_WRITE> to the
		440	C<writefds> set (and to work around Microsoft Windows bugs, also onto the
		441	C<exceptfds> set on that platform).
320		442
321	=item C<EVBACKEND_POLL> (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)	443	=item C<EVBACKEND_POLL> (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)
322		444
323	And this is your standard poll(2) backend. It's more complicated	445	And this is your standard poll(2) backend. It's more complicated
324	than select, but handles sparse fds better and has no artificial	446	than select, but handles sparse fds better and has no artificial
325	limit on the number of fds you can use (except it will slow down	447	limit on the number of fds you can use (except it will slow down
326	considerably with a lot of inactive fds). It scales similarly to select,	448	considerably with a lot of inactive fds). It scales similarly to select,
327	i.e. O(total_fds). See the entry for C<EVBACKEND_SELECT>, above, for	449	i.e. O(total_fds). See the entry for C<EVBACKEND_SELECT>, above, for
328	performance tips.	450	performance tips.
329		451
		452	This backend maps C<EV_READ> to C<POLLIN | POLLERR | POLLHUP>, and
		453	C<EV_WRITE> to C<POLLOUT | POLLERR | POLLHUP>.
		454
330	=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)	455	=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)
		456
		457	Use the linux-specific epoll(7) interface (for both pre- and post-2.6.9
		458	kernels).
331		459
332	For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,	460	For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,
333	but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale	461	but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale
334	like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd),	462	like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd),
335	epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds). The epoll design has a number	463	epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds).
336	of shortcomings, such as silently dropping events in some hard-to-detect	464
337	cases and rewiring a syscall per fd change, no fork support and bad	465	The epoll mechanism deserves honorable mention as the most misdesigned
338	support for dup.	466	of the more advanced event mechanisms: mere annoyances include silently
		467	dropping file descriptors, requiring a system call per change per file
		468	descriptor (and unnecessary guessing of parameters), problems with dup,
		469	returning before the timeout value, resulting in additional iterations
		470	(and only giving 5ms accuracy while select on the same platform gives
		471	0.1ms) and so on. The biggest issue is fork races, however - if a program
		472	forks then I<both> parent and child process have to recreate the epoll
		473	set, which can take considerable time (one syscall per file descriptor)
		474	and is of course hard to detect.
		475
		476	Epoll is also notoriously buggy - embedding epoll fds I<should> work, but
		477	of course I<doesn't>, and epoll just loves to report events for totally
		478	I<different> file descriptors (even already closed ones, so one cannot
		479	even remove them from the set) than registered in the set (especially
		480	on SMP systems). Libev tries to counter these spurious notifications by
		481	employing an additional generation counter and comparing that against the
		482	events to filter out spurious ones, recreating the set when required. Last
		483	not least, it also refuses to work with some file descriptors which work
		484	perfectly fine with C<select> (files, many character devices...).
		485
		486	Epoll is truly the train wreck analog among event poll mechanisms.
339		487
340	While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration	488	While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration
341	will result in some caching, there is still a syscall per such incident	489	will result in some caching, there is still a system call per such
342	(because the fd could point to a different file description now), so its	490	incident (because the same I<file descriptor> could point to a different
343	best to avoid that. Also, C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors might not work	491	I<file description> now), so its best to avoid that. Also, C<dup ()>'ed
344	very well if you register events for both fds.	492	file descriptors might not work very well if you register events for both
345		493	file descriptors.
346	Please note that epoll sometimes generates spurious notifications, so you
347	need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid blocking when no data
348	(or space) is available.
349		494
350	Best performance from this backend is achieved by not unregistering all	495	Best performance from this backend is achieved by not unregistering all
351	watchers for a file descriptor until it has been closed, if possible, i.e.	496	watchers for a file descriptor until it has been closed, if possible,
352	keep at least one watcher active per fd at all times.	497	i.e. keep at least one watcher active per fd at all times. Stopping and
		498	starting a watcher (without re-setting it) also usually doesn't cause
		499	extra overhead. A fork can both result in spurious notifications as well
		500	as in libev having to destroy and recreate the epoll object, which can
		501	take considerable time and thus should be avoided.
353		502
		503	All this means that, in practice, C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> can be as fast or
		504	faster than epoll for maybe up to a hundred file descriptors, depending on
		505	the usage. So sad.
		506
354	While nominally embeddeble in other event loops, this feature is broken in	507	While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this feature is broken in
355	all kernel versions tested so far.	508	all kernel versions tested so far.
		509
		510	This backend maps C<EV_READ> and C<EV_WRITE> in the same way as
		511	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
356		512
357	=item C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE> (value 8, most BSD clones)	513	=item C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE> (value 8, most BSD clones)
358		514
359	Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it	515	Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it
360	was broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work reliably	516	was broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work reliably
361	with anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course	517	with anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course
362	it's completely useless). For this reason it's not being "autodetected"	518	it's completely useless). Unlike epoll, however, whose brokenness
		519	is by design, these kqueue bugs can (and eventually will) be fixed
		520	without API changes to existing programs. For this reason it's not being
363	unless you explicitly specify it explicitly in the flags (i.e. using	521	"auto-detected" unless you explicitly specify it in the flags (i.e. using
364	C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>) or libev was compiled on a known-to-be-good (-enough)	522	C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>) or libev was compiled on a known-to-be-good (-enough)
365	system like NetBSD.	523	system like NetBSD.
366		524
367	You still can embed kqueue into a normal poll or select backend and use it	525	You still can embed kqueue into a normal poll or select backend and use it
368	only for sockets (after having made sure that sockets work with kqueue on	526	only for sockets (after having made sure that sockets work with kqueue on
369	the target platform). See C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.	527	the target platform). See C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
370		528
371	It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the	529	It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the
372	kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of	530	kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of
373	course). While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher does never	531	course). While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher does never
374	cause an extra syscall as with C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL>, it still adds up to	532	cause an extra system call as with C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL>, it still adds up to
375	two event changes per incident, support for C<fork ()> is very bad and it	533	two event changes per incident. Support for C<fork ()> is very bad (but
376	drops fds silently in similarly hard-to-detect cases.	534	sane, unlike epoll) and it drops fds silently in similarly hard-to-detect
		535	cases
377		536
378	This backend usually performs well under most conditions.	537	This backend usually performs well under most conditions.
379		538
380	While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this doesn't work	539	While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this doesn't work
381	everywhere, so you might need to test for this. And since it is broken	540	everywhere, so you might need to test for this. And since it is broken
382	almost everywhere, you should only use it when you have a lot of sockets	541	almost everywhere, you should only use it when you have a lot of sockets
383	(for which it usually works), by embedding it into another event loop	542	(for which it usually works), by embedding it into another event loop
384	(e.g. C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>) and using it only for	543	(e.g. C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL> (but C<poll> is of course
385	sockets.	544	also broken on OS X)) and, did I mention it, using it only for sockets.
		545
		546	This backend maps C<EV_READ> into an C<EVFILT_READ> kevent with
		547	C<NOTE_EOF>, and C<EV_WRITE> into an C<EVFILT_WRITE> kevent with
		548	C<NOTE_EOF>.
386		549
387	=item C<EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL> (value 16, Solaris 8)	550	=item C<EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL> (value 16, Solaris 8)
388		551
389	This is not implemented yet (and might never be, unless you send me an	552	This is not implemented yet (and might never be, unless you send me an
390	implementation). According to reports, C</dev/poll> only supports sockets	553	implementation). According to reports, C</dev/poll> only supports sockets
…		…
394	=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)	557	=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)
395		558
396	This uses the Solaris 10 event port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,	559	This uses the Solaris 10 event port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,
397	it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).	560	it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).
398		561
399	Please note that solaris event ports can deliver a lot of spurious	562	Please note that Solaris event ports can deliver a lot of spurious
400	notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid	563	notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid
401	blocking when no data (or space) is available.	564	blocking when no data (or space) is available.
402		565
403	While this backend scales well, it requires one system call per active	566	While this backend scales well, it requires one system call per active
404	file descriptor per loop iteration. For small and medium numbers of file	567	file descriptor per loop iteration. For small and medium numbers of file
405	descriptors a "slow" C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL> backend	568	descriptors a "slow" C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL> backend
406	might perform better.	569	might perform better.
407		570
		571	On the positive side, with the exception of the spurious readiness
		572	notifications, this backend actually performed fully to specification
		573	in all tests and is fully embeddable, which is a rare feat among the
		574	OS-specific backends (I vastly prefer correctness over speed hacks).
		575
		576	This backend maps C<EV_READ> and C<EV_WRITE> in the same way as
		577	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
		578
408	=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>	579	=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>
409		580
410	Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried	581	Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried
411	with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as	582	with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as
412	C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.	583	C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.
413		584
414	It is definitely not recommended to use this flag.	585	It is definitely not recommended to use this flag.
415		586
416	=back	587	=back
417		588
418	If one or more of these are ored into the flags value, then only these	589	If one or more of the backend flags are or'ed into the flags value,
419	backends will be tried (in the reverse order as given here). If none are	590	then only these backends will be tried (in the reverse order as listed
420	specified, most compiled-in backend will be tried, usually in reverse	591	here). If none are specified, all backends in C<ev_recommended_backends
421	order of their flag values :)	592	()> will be tried.
422
423	The most typical usage is like this:
424
425	if (!ev_default_loop (0))
426	fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");
427
428	Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow
429	environment settings to be taken into account:
430
431	ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);
432
433	Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is used if
434	available (warning, breaks stuff, best use only with your own private
435	event loop and only if you know the OS supports your types of fds):
436
437	ev_default_loop (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);
438
439	=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)
440
441	Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is
442	always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot
443	handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
444	undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).
445		593
446	Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.	594	Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.
447		595
448	struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);	596	struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
449	if (!epoller)	597	if (!epoller)
450	fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");	598	fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");
451		599
		600	Example: Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is
		601	used if available.
		602
		603	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_loop_new (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);
		604
452	=item ev_default_destroy ()	605	=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)
453		606
454	Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state	607	Destroys an event loop object (frees all memory and kernel state
455	etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal	608	etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal
456	sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your	609	sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your
457	responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yoursef I<before>	610	responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yourself I<before>
458	calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually	611	calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually
459	the easiest thing, you can just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them	612	the easiest thing, you can just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them
460	for example).	613	for example).
461		614
462	Note that certain global state, such as signal state, will not be freed by	615	Note that certain global state, such as signal state (and installed signal
463	this function, and related watchers (such as signal and child watchers)	616	handlers), will not be freed by this function, and related watchers (such
464	would need to be stopped manually.	617	as signal and child watchers) would need to be stopped manually.
465		618
466	In general it is not advisable to call this function except in the	619	This function is normally used on loop objects allocated by
467	rare occasion where you really need to free e.g. the signal handling	620	C<ev_loop_new>, but it can also be used on the default loop returned by
		621	C<ev_default_loop>, in which case it is not thread-safe.
		622
		623	Note that it is not advisable to call this function on the default loop
		624	except in the rare occasion where you really need to free it's resources.
468	pipe fds. If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use	625	If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use C<ev_loop_new>
469	C<ev_loop_new> and C<ev_loop_destroy>).	626	and C<ev_loop_destroy>.
470		627
471	=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)	628	=item ev_loop_fork (loop)
472		629
473	Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an	630	This function sets a flag that causes subsequent C<ev_run> iterations to
474	earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>.
475
476	=item ev_default_fork ()
477
478	This function reinitialises the kernel state for backends that have	631	reinitialise the kernel state for backends that have one. Despite the
479	one. Despite the name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense	632	name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense after forking, in
480	after forking, in either the parent or child process (or both, but that	633	the child process. You I<must> call it (or use C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>) in the
481	again makes little sense).	634	child before resuming or calling C<ev_run>.
482		635
483	You I<must> call this function in the child process after forking if and	636	Again, you I<have> to call it on I<any> loop that you want to re-use after
484	only if you want to use the event library in both processes. If you just	637	a fork, I<even if you do not plan to use the loop in the parent>. This is
485	fork+exec, you don't have to call it.	638	because some kernel interfaces *cough* I<kqueue> *cough* do funny things
		639	during fork.
		640
		641	On the other hand, you only need to call this function in the child
		642	process if and only if you want to use the event loop in the child. If
		643	you just fork+exec or create a new loop in the child, you don't have to
		644	call it at all (in fact, C<epoll> is so badly broken that it makes a
		645	difference, but libev will usually detect this case on its own and do a
		646	costly reset of the backend).
486		647
487	The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call	648	The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call
488	it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in	649	it just in case after a fork.
489	quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>:
490		650
		651	Example: Automate calling C<ev_loop_fork> on the default loop when
		652	using pthreads.
		653
		654	static void
		655	post_fork_child (void)
		656	{
		657	ev_loop_fork (EV_DEFAULT);
		658	}
		659
		660	...
491	pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork);	661	pthread_atfork (0, 0, post_fork_child);
492		662
493	At the moment, C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and C<EVBACKEND_POLL> are safe to use	663	=item int ev_is_default_loop (loop)
494	without calling this function, so if you force one of those backends you
495	do not need to care.
496		664
497	=item ev_loop_fork (loop)	665	Returns true when the given loop is, in fact, the default loop, and false
		666	otherwise.
498		667
499	Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by
500	C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
501	after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.
502
503	=item unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)	668	=item unsigned int ev_iteration (loop)
504		669
505	Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to	670	Returns the current iteration count for the event loop, which is identical
506	the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at C<0> and	671	to the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at C<0>
507	happily wraps around with enough iterations.	672	and happily wraps around with enough iterations.
508		673
509	This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it	674	This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it
510	"ticks" the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with	675	"ticks" the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with
511	C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> calls.	676	C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> calls - and is incremented between the
		677	prepare and check phases.
		678
		679	=item unsigned int ev_depth (loop)
		680
		681	Returns the number of times C<ev_run> was entered minus the number of
		682	times C<ev_run> was exited, in other words, the recursion depth.
		683
		684	Outside C<ev_run>, this number is zero. In a callback, this number is
		685	C<1>, unless C<ev_run> was invoked recursively (or from another thread),
		686	in which case it is higher.
		687
		688	Leaving C<ev_run> abnormally (setjmp/longjmp, cancelling the thread
		689	etc.), doesn't count as "exit" - consider this as a hint to avoid such
		690	ungentleman-like behaviour unless it's really convenient.
512		691
513	=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)	692	=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)
514		693
515	Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in	694	Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in
516	use.	695	use.
…		…
521	received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not	700	received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not
522	change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base	701	change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base
523	time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the	702	time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the
524	event occurring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).	703	event occurring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).
525		704
		705	=item ev_now_update (loop)
		706
		707	Establishes the current time by querying the kernel, updating the time
		708	returned by C<ev_now ()> in the progress. This is a costly operation and
		709	is usually done automatically within C<ev_run ()>.
		710
		711	This function is rarely useful, but when some event callback runs for a
		712	very long time without entering the event loop, updating libev's idea of
		713	the current time is a good idea.
		714
		715	See also L<The special problem of time updates> in the C<ev_timer> section.
		716
		717	=item ev_suspend (loop)
		718
		719	=item ev_resume (loop)
		720
		721	These two functions suspend and resume an event loop, for use when the
		722	loop is not used for a while and timeouts should not be processed.
		723
		724	A typical use case would be an interactive program such as a game: When
		725	the user presses C<^Z> to suspend the game and resumes it an hour later it
		726	would be best to handle timeouts as if no time had actually passed while
		727	the program was suspended. This can be achieved by calling C<ev_suspend>
		728	in your C<SIGTSTP> handler, sending yourself a C<SIGSTOP> and calling
		729	C<ev_resume> directly afterwards to resume timer processing.
		730
		731	Effectively, all C<ev_timer> watchers will be delayed by the time spend
		732	between C<ev_suspend> and C<ev_resume>, and all C<ev_periodic> watchers
		733	will be rescheduled (that is, they will lose any events that would have
		734	occurred while suspended).
		735
		736	After calling C<ev_suspend> you B<must not> call I<any> function on the
		737	given loop other than C<ev_resume>, and you B<must not> call C<ev_resume>
		738	without a previous call to C<ev_suspend>.
		739
		740	Calling C<ev_suspend>/C<ev_resume> has the side effect of updating the
		741	event loop time (see C<ev_now_update>).
		742
526	=item ev_loop (loop, int flags)	743	=item ev_run (loop, int flags)
527		744
528	Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called	745	Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called
529	after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling	746	after you have initialised all your watchers and you want to start
530	events.	747	handling events. It will ask the operating system for any new events, call
		748	the watcher callbacks, an then repeat the whole process indefinitely: This
		749	is why event loops are called I<loops>.
531		750
532	If the flags argument is specified as C<0>, it will not return until	751	If the flags argument is specified as C<0>, it will keep handling events
533	either no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_unloop> was called.	752	until either no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_break> was
		753	called.
534		754
535	Please note that an explicit C<ev_unloop> is usually better than	755	Please note that an explicit C<ev_break> is usually better than
536	relying on all watchers to be stopped when deciding when a program has	756	relying on all watchers to be stopped when deciding when a program has
537	finished (especially in interactive programs), but having a program that	757	finished (especially in interactive programs), but having a program
538	automatically loops as long as it has to and no longer by virtue of	758	that automatically loops as long as it has to and no longer by virtue
539	relying on its watchers stopping correctly is a thing of beauty.	759	of relying on its watchers stopping correctly, that is truly a thing of
		760	beauty.
540		761
541	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle	762	A flags value of C<EVRUN_NOWAIT> will look for new events, will handle
542	those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in	763	those events and any already outstanding ones, but will not wait and
543	case there are no events and will return after one iteration of the loop.	764	block your process in case there are no events and will return after one
		765	iteration of the loop. This is sometimes useful to poll and handle new
		766	events while doing lengthy calculations, to keep the program responsive.
544		767
545	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if	768	A flags value of C<EVRUN_ONCE> will look for new events (waiting if
546	neccessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block	769	necessary) and will handle those and any already outstanding ones. It
547	your process until at least one new event arrives, and will return after	770	will block your process until at least one new event arrives (which could
548	one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some	771	be an event internal to libev itself, so there is no guarantee that a
549	external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other	772	user-registered callback will be called), and will return after one
		773	iteration of the loop.
		774
		775	This is useful if you are waiting for some external event in conjunction
		776	with something not expressible using other libev watchers (i.e. "roll your
550	libev watchers. However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is	777	own C<ev_run>"). However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is
551	usually a better approach for this kind of thing.	778	usually a better approach for this kind of thing.
552		779
553	Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does:	780	Here are the gory details of what C<ev_run> does:
554		781
		782	- Increment loop depth.
		783	- Reset the ev_break status.
555	- Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.	784	- Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
		785	LOOP:
556	* If EVFLAG_FORKCHECK was used, check for a fork.	786	- If EVFLAG_FORKCHECK was used, check for a fork.
557	- If a fork was detected, queue and call all fork watchers.	787	- If a fork was detected (by any means), queue and call all fork watchers.
558	- Queue and call all prepare watchers.	788	- Queue and call all prepare watchers.
		789	- If ev_break was called, goto FINISH.
559	- If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.	790	- If we have been forked, detach and recreate the kernel state
		791	as to not disturb the other process.
560	- Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.	792	- Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
561	- Update the "event loop time".	793	- Update the "event loop time" (ev_now ()).
562	- Calculate for how long to sleep or block, if at all	794	- Calculate for how long to sleep or block, if at all
563	(active idle watchers, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK or not having	795	(active idle watchers, EVRUN_NOWAIT or not having
564	any active watchers at all will result in not sleeping).	796	any active watchers at all will result in not sleeping).
565	- Sleep if the I/O and timer collect interval say so.	797	- Sleep if the I/O and timer collect interval say so.
		798	- Increment loop iteration counter.
566	- Block the process, waiting for any events.	799	- Block the process, waiting for any events.
567	- Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.	800	- Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.
568	- Update the "event loop time" and do time jump handling.	801	- Update the "event loop time" (ev_now ()), and do time jump adjustments.
569	- Queue all outstanding timers.	802	- Queue all expired timers.
570	- Queue all outstanding periodics.	803	- Queue all expired periodics.
571	- If no events are pending now, queue all idle watchers.	804	- Queue all idle watchers with priority higher than that of pending events.
572	- Queue all check watchers.	805	- Queue all check watchers.
573	- Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).	806	- Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).
574	Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will	807	Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will
575	be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.	808	be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
576	- If ev_unloop has been called, or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK	809	- If ev_break has been called, or EVRUN_ONCE or EVRUN_NOWAIT
577	were used, or there are no active watchers, return, otherwise	810	were used, or there are no active watchers, goto FINISH, otherwise
578	continue with step *.	811	continue with step LOOP.
		812	FINISH:
		813	- Reset the ev_break status iff it was EVBREAK_ONE.
		814	- Decrement the loop depth.
		815	- Return.
579		816
580	Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding	817	Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outstanding
581	anymore.	818	anymore.
582		819
583	... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long	820	... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
584	... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)	821	... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
585	ev_loop (my_loop, 0);	822	ev_run (my_loop, 0);
586	... jobs done. yeah!	823	... jobs done or somebody called unloop. yeah!
587		824
588	=item ev_unloop (loop, how)	825	=item ev_break (loop, how)
589		826
590	Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early (but only after it	827	Can be used to make a call to C<ev_run> return early (but only after it
591	has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either	828	has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either
592	C<EVUNLOOP_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_loop> call return, or	829	C<EVBREAK_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_run> call return, or
593	C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> calls return.	830	C<EVBREAK_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_run> calls return.
		831
		832	This "break state" will be cleared when entering C<ev_run> again.
		833
		834	It is safe to call C<ev_break> from outside any C<ev_run> calls, too.
594		835
595	=item ev_ref (loop)	836	=item ev_ref (loop)
596		837
597	=item ev_unref (loop)	838	=item ev_unref (loop)
598		839
599	Ref/unref can be used to add or remove a reference count on the event	840	Ref/unref can be used to add or remove a reference count on the event
600	loop: Every watcher keeps one reference, and as long as the reference	841	loop: Every watcher keeps one reference, and as long as the reference
601	count is nonzero, C<ev_loop> will not return on its own. If you have	842	count is nonzero, C<ev_run> will not return on its own.
602	a watcher you never unregister that should not keep C<ev_loop> from	843
603	returning, ev_unref() after starting, and ev_ref() before stopping it. For	844	This is useful when you have a watcher that you never intend to
		845	unregister, but that nevertheless should not keep C<ev_run> from
		846	returning. In such a case, call C<ev_unref> after starting, and C<ev_ref>
		847	before stopping it.
		848
604	example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not	849	As an example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It
605	visible to the libev user and should not keep C<ev_loop> from exiting if	850	is not visible to the libev user and should not keep C<ev_run> from
606	no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent	851	exiting if no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an
607	way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party	852	excellent way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within
608	libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref before stop>.	853	third-party libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref
		854	before stop> (but only if the watcher wasn't active before, or was active
		855	before, respectively. Note also that libev might stop watchers itself
		856	(e.g. non-repeating timers) in which case you have to C<ev_ref>
		857	in the callback).
609		858
610	Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_loop>	859	Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_run>
611	running when nothing else is active.	860	running when nothing else is active.
612		861
613	struct ev_signal exitsig;	862	ev_signal exitsig;
614	ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);	863	ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
615	ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);	864	ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);
616	evf_unref (loop);	865	evf_unref (loop);
617		866
618	Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.	867	Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.
619		868
620	ev_ref (loop);	869	ev_ref (loop);
621	ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);	870	ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);
622		871
623	=item ev_set_io_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)	872	=item ev_set_io_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
624		873
625	=item ev_set_timeout_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)	874	=item ev_set_timeout_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
626		875
627	These advanced functions influence the time that libev will spend waiting	876	These advanced functions influence the time that libev will spend waiting
628	for events. Both are by default C<0>, meaning that libev will try to	877	for events. Both time intervals are by default C<0>, meaning that libev
629	invoke timer/periodic callbacks and I/O callbacks with minimum latency.	878	will try to invoke timer/periodic callbacks and I/O callbacks with minimum
		879	latency.
630		880
631	Setting these to a higher value (the C<interval> I<must> be >= C<0>)	881	Setting these to a higher value (the C<interval> I<must> be >= C<0>)
632	allows libev to delay invocation of I/O and timer/periodic callbacks to	882	allows libev to delay invocation of I/O and timer/periodic callbacks
633	increase efficiency of loop iterations.	883	to increase efficiency of loop iterations (or to increase power-saving
		884	opportunities).
634		885
635	The background is that sometimes your program runs just fast enough to	886	The idea is that sometimes your program runs just fast enough to handle
636	handle one (or very few) event(s) per loop iteration. While this makes	887	one (or very few) event(s) per loop iteration. While this makes the
637	the program responsive, it also wastes a lot of CPU time to poll for new	888	program responsive, it also wastes a lot of CPU time to poll for new
638	events, especially with backends like C<select ()> which have a high	889	events, especially with backends like C<select ()> which have a high
639	overhead for the actual polling but can deliver many events at once.	890	overhead for the actual polling but can deliver many events at once.
640		891
641	By setting a higher I<io collect interval> you allow libev to spend more	892	By setting a higher I<io collect interval> you allow libev to spend more
642	time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration,	893	time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration,
643	at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both C<ev_periodic> and	894	at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both C<ev_periodic> and
644	C<ev_timer>) will be not affected. Setting this to a non-null value will	895	C<ev_timer>) will be not affected. Setting this to a non-null value will
645	introduce an additional C<ev_sleep ()> call into most loop iterations.	896	introduce an additional C<ev_sleep ()> call into most loop iterations. The
		897	sleep time ensures that libev will not poll for I/O events more often then
		898	once per this interval, on average.
646		899
647	Likewise, by setting a higher I<timeout collect interval> you allow libev	900	Likewise, by setting a higher I<timeout collect interval> you allow libev
648	to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased	901	to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased
649	latency (the watcher callback will be called later). C<ev_io> watchers	902	latency/jitter/inexactness (the watcher callback will be called
650	will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null value will not introduce	903	later). C<ev_io> watchers will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null
651	any overhead in libev.	904	value will not introduce any overhead in libev.
652		905
653	Many (busy) programs can usually benefit by setting the io collect	906	Many (busy) programs can usually benefit by setting the I/O collect
654	interval to a value near C<0.1> or so, which is often enough for	907	interval to a value near C<0.1> or so, which is often enough for
655	interactive servers (of course not for games), likewise for timeouts. It	908	interactive servers (of course not for games), likewise for timeouts. It
656	usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than C<0.01>,	909	usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than C<0.01>,
657	as this approsaches the timing granularity of most systems.	910	as this approaches the timing granularity of most systems. Note that if
		911	you do transactions with the outside world and you can't increase the
		912	parallelity, then this setting will limit your transaction rate (if you
		913	need to poll once per transaction and the I/O collect interval is 0.01,
		914	then you can't do more than 100 transactions per second).
		915
		916	Setting the I<timeout collect interval> can improve the opportunity for
		917	saving power, as the program will "bundle" timer callback invocations that
		918	are "near" in time together, by delaying some, thus reducing the number of
		919	times the process sleeps and wakes up again. Another useful technique to
		920	reduce iterations/wake-ups is to use C<ev_periodic> watchers and make sure
		921	they fire on, say, one-second boundaries only.
		922
		923	Example: we only need 0.1s timeout granularity, and we wish not to poll
		924	more often than 100 times per second:
		925
		926	ev_set_timeout_collect_interval (EV_DEFAULT_UC_ 0.1);
		927	ev_set_io_collect_interval (EV_DEFAULT_UC_ 0.01);
		928
		929	=item ev_invoke_pending (loop)
		930
		931	This call will simply invoke all pending watchers while resetting their
		932	pending state. Normally, C<ev_run> does this automatically when required,
		933	but when overriding the invoke callback this call comes handy. This
		934	function can be invoked from a watcher - this can be useful for example
		935	when you want to do some lengthy calculation and want to pass further
		936	event handling to another thread (you still have to make sure only one
		937	thread executes within C<ev_invoke_pending> or C<ev_run> of course).
		938
		939	=item int ev_pending_count (loop)
		940
		941	Returns the number of pending watchers - zero indicates that no watchers
		942	are pending.
		943
		944	=item ev_set_invoke_pending_cb (loop, void (*invoke_pending_cb)(EV_P))
		945
		946	This overrides the invoke pending functionality of the loop: Instead of
		947	invoking all pending watchers when there are any, C<ev_run> will call
		948	this callback instead. This is useful, for example, when you want to
		949	invoke the actual watchers inside another context (another thread etc.).
		950
		951	If you want to reset the callback, use C<ev_invoke_pending> as new
		952	callback.
		953
		954	=item ev_set_loop_release_cb (loop, void (*release)(EV_P), void (*acquire)(EV_P))
		955
		956	Sometimes you want to share the same loop between multiple threads. This
		957	can be done relatively simply by putting mutex_lock/unlock calls around
		958	each call to a libev function.
		959
		960	However, C<ev_run> can run an indefinite time, so it is not feasible
		961	to wait for it to return. One way around this is to wake up the event
		962	loop via C<ev_break> and C<av_async_send>, another way is to set these
		963	I<release> and I<acquire> callbacks on the loop.
		964
		965	When set, then C<release> will be called just before the thread is
		966	suspended waiting for new events, and C<acquire> is called just
		967	afterwards.
		968
		969	Ideally, C<release> will just call your mutex_unlock function, and
		970	C<acquire> will just call the mutex_lock function again.
		971
		972	While event loop modifications are allowed between invocations of
		973	C<release> and C<acquire> (that's their only purpose after all), no
		974	modifications done will affect the event loop, i.e. adding watchers will
		975	have no effect on the set of file descriptors being watched, or the time
		976	waited. Use an C<ev_async> watcher to wake up C<ev_run> when you want it
		977	to take note of any changes you made.
		978
		979	In theory, threads executing C<ev_run> will be async-cancel safe between
		980	invocations of C<release> and C<acquire>.
		981
		982	See also the locking example in the C<THREADS> section later in this
		983	document.
		984
		985	=item ev_set_userdata (loop, void *data)
		986
		987	=item ev_userdata (loop)
		988
		989	Set and retrieve a single C<void *> associated with a loop. When
		990	C<ev_set_userdata> has never been called, then C<ev_userdata> returns
		991	C<0.>
		992
		993	These two functions can be used to associate arbitrary data with a loop,
		994	and are intended solely for the C<invoke_pending_cb>, C<release> and
		995	C<acquire> callbacks described above, but of course can be (ab-)used for
		996	any other purpose as well.
		997
		998	=item ev_verify (loop)
		999
		1000	This function only does something when C<EV_VERIFY> support has been
		1001	compiled in, which is the default for non-minimal builds. It tries to go
		1002	through all internal structures and checks them for validity. If anything
		1003	is found to be inconsistent, it will print an error message to standard
		1004	error and call C<abort ()>.
		1005
		1006	This can be used to catch bugs inside libev itself: under normal
		1007	circumstances, this function will never abort as of course libev keeps its
		1008	data structures consistent.
658		1009
659	=back	1010	=back
660		1011
661		1012
662	=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER	1013	=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER
663		1014
		1015	In the following description, uppercase C<TYPE> in names stands for the
		1016	watcher type, e.g. C<ev_TYPE_start> can mean C<ev_timer_start> for timer
		1017	watchers and C<ev_io_start> for I/O watchers.
		1018
664	A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your	1019	A watcher is an opaque structure that you allocate and register to record
665	interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to	1020	your interest in some event. To make a concrete example, imagine you want
666	become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher for that:	1021	to wait for STDIN to become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher
		1022	for that:
667		1023
668	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)	1024	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
669	{	1025	{
670	ev_io_stop (w);	1026	ev_io_stop (w);
671	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);	1027	ev_break (loop, EVBREAK_ALL);
672	}	1028	}
673		1029
674	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);	1030	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
		1031
675	struct ev_io stdin_watcher;	1032	ev_io stdin_watcher;
		1033
676	ev_init (&stdin_watcher, my_cb);	1034	ev_init (&stdin_watcher, my_cb);
677	ev_io_set (&stdin_watcher, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);	1035	ev_io_set (&stdin_watcher, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
678	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);	1036	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
		1037
679	ev_loop (loop, 0);	1038	ev_run (loop, 0);
680		1039
681	As you can see, you are responsible for allocating the memory for your	1040	As you can see, you are responsible for allocating the memory for your
682	watcher structures (and it is usually a bad idea to do this on the stack,	1041	watcher structures (and it is I<usually> a bad idea to do this on the
683	although this can sometimes be quite valid).	1042	stack).
684		1043
		1044	Each watcher has an associated watcher structure (called C<struct ev_TYPE>
		1045	or simply C<ev_TYPE>, as typedefs are provided for all watcher structs).
		1046
685	Each watcher structure must be initialised by a call to C<ev_init	1047	Each watcher structure must be initialised by a call to C<ev_init (watcher
686	(watcher *, callback)>, which expects a callback to be provided. This	1048	*, callback)>, which expects a callback to be provided. This callback is
687	callback gets invoked each time the event occurs (or, in the case of io	1049	invoked each time the event occurs (or, in the case of I/O watchers, each
688	watchers, each time the event loop detects that the file descriptor given	1050	time the event loop detects that the file descriptor given is readable
689	is readable and/or writable).	1051	and/or writable).
690		1052
691	Each watcher type has its own C<< ev_<type>_set (watcher *, ...) >> macro	1053	Each watcher type further has its own C<< ev_TYPE_set (watcher *, ...) >>
692	with arguments specific to this watcher type. There is also a macro	1054	macro to configure it, with arguments specific to the watcher type. There
693	to combine initialisation and setting in one call: C<< ev_<type>_init	1055	is also a macro to combine initialisation and setting in one call: C<<
694	(watcher *, callback, ...) >>.	1056	ev_TYPE_init (watcher *, callback, ...) >>.
695		1057
696	To make the watcher actually watch out for events, you have to start it	1058	To make the watcher actually watch out for events, you have to start it
697	with a watcher-specific start function (C<< ev_<type>_start (loop, watcher	1059	with a watcher-specific start function (C<< ev_TYPE_start (loop, watcher
698	*) >>), and you can stop watching for events at any time by calling the	1060	*) >>), and you can stop watching for events at any time by calling the
699	corresponding stop function (C<< ev_<type>_stop (loop, watcher *) >>.	1061	corresponding stop function (C<< ev_TYPE_stop (loop, watcher *) >>.
700		1062
701	As long as your watcher is active (has been started but not stopped) you	1063	As long as your watcher is active (has been started but not stopped) you
702	must not touch the values stored in it. Most specifically you must never	1064	must not touch the values stored in it. Most specifically you must never
703	reinitialise it or call its C<set> macro.	1065	reinitialise it or call its C<ev_TYPE_set> macro.
704		1066
705	Each and every callback receives the event loop pointer as first, the	1067	Each and every callback receives the event loop pointer as first, the
706	registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as	1068	registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as
707	third argument.	1069	third argument.
708		1070
…		…
717	=item C<EV_WRITE>	1079	=item C<EV_WRITE>
718		1080
719	The file descriptor in the C<ev_io> watcher has become readable and/or	1081	The file descriptor in the C<ev_io> watcher has become readable and/or
720	writable.	1082	writable.
721		1083
722	=item C<EV_TIMEOUT>	1084	=item C<EV_TIMER>
723		1085
724	The C<ev_timer> watcher has timed out.	1086	The C<ev_timer> watcher has timed out.
725		1087
726	=item C<EV_PERIODIC>	1088	=item C<EV_PERIODIC>
727		1089
…		…
745		1107
746	=item C<EV_PREPARE>	1108	=item C<EV_PREPARE>
747		1109
748	=item C<EV_CHECK>	1110	=item C<EV_CHECK>
749		1111
750	All C<ev_prepare> watchers are invoked just I<before> C<ev_loop> starts	1112	All C<ev_prepare> watchers are invoked just I<before> C<ev_run> starts
751	to gather new events, and all C<ev_check> watchers are invoked just after	1113	to gather new events, and all C<ev_check> watchers are invoked just after
752	C<ev_loop> has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any	1114	C<ev_run> has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any
753	received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as	1115	received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as
754	many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account	1116	many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account
755	(for example, a C<ev_prepare> watcher might start an idle watcher to keep	1117	(for example, a C<ev_prepare> watcher might start an idle watcher to keep
756	C<ev_loop> from blocking).	1118	C<ev_run> from blocking).
757		1119
758	=item C<EV_EMBED>	1120	=item C<EV_EMBED>
759		1121
760	The embedded event loop specified in the C<ev_embed> watcher needs attention.	1122	The embedded event loop specified in the C<ev_embed> watcher needs attention.
761		1123
762	=item C<EV_FORK>	1124	=item C<EV_FORK>
763		1125
764	The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see	1126	The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
765	C<ev_fork>).	1127	C<ev_fork>).
766		1128
		1129	=item C<EV_CLEANUP>
		1130
		1131	The event loop is about to be destroyed (see C<ev_cleanup>).
		1132
		1133	=item C<EV_ASYNC>
		1134
		1135	The given async watcher has been asynchronously notified (see C<ev_async>).
		1136
		1137	=item C<EV_CUSTOM>
		1138
		1139	Not ever sent (or otherwise used) by libev itself, but can be freely used
		1140	by libev users to signal watchers (e.g. via C<ev_feed_event>).
		1141
767	=item C<EV_ERROR>	1142	=item C<EV_ERROR>
768		1143
769	An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might	1144	An unspecified error has occurred, the watcher has been stopped. This might
770	happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev	1145	happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev
771	ran out of memory, a file descriptor was found to be closed or any other	1146	ran out of memory, a file descriptor was found to be closed or any other
		1147	problem. Libev considers these application bugs.
		1148
772	problem. You best act on it by reporting the problem and somehow coping	1149	You best act on it by reporting the problem and somehow coping with the
773	with the watcher being stopped.	1150	watcher being stopped. Note that well-written programs should not receive
		1151	an error ever, so when your watcher receives it, this usually indicates a
		1152	bug in your program.
774		1153
775	Libev will usually signal a few "dummy" events together with an error,	1154	Libev will usually signal a few "dummy" events together with an error, for
776	for example it might indicate that a fd is readable or writable, and if	1155	example it might indicate that a fd is readable or writable, and if your
777	your callbacks is well-written it can just attempt the operation and cope	1156	callbacks is well-written it can just attempt the operation and cope with
778	with the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multithreaded	1157	the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multi-threaded
779	programs, though, so beware.	1158	programs, though, as the fd could already be closed and reused for another
		1159	thing, so beware.
780		1160
781	=back	1161	=back
782		1162
783	=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS	1163	=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS
784
785	In the following description, C<TYPE> stands for the watcher type,
786	e.g. C<timer> for C<ev_timer> watchers and C<io> for C<ev_io> watchers.
787		1164
788	=over 4	1165	=over 4
789		1166
790	=item C<ev_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)	1167	=item C<ev_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
791		1168
…		…
797	which rolls both calls into one.	1174	which rolls both calls into one.
798		1175
799	You can reinitialise a watcher at any time as long as it has been stopped	1176	You can reinitialise a watcher at any time as long as it has been stopped
800	(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.	1177	(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.
801		1178
802	The callback is always of type C<void (*)(ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,	1179	The callback is always of type C<void (*)(struct ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,
803	int revents)>.	1180	int revents)>.
804		1181
		1182	Example: Initialise an C<ev_io> watcher in two steps.
		1183
		1184	ev_io w;
		1185	ev_init (&w, my_cb);
		1186	ev_io_set (&w, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
		1187
805	=item C<ev_TYPE_set> (ev_TYPE *, [args])	1188	=item C<ev_TYPE_set> (ev_TYPE *watcher, [args])
806		1189
807	This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to	1190	This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to
808	call C<ev_init> at least once before you call this macro, but you can	1191	call C<ev_init> at least once before you call this macro, but you can
809	call C<ev_TYPE_set> any number of times. You must not, however, call this	1192	call C<ev_TYPE_set> any number of times. You must not, however, call this
810	macro on a watcher that is active (it can be pending, however, which is a	1193	macro on a watcher that is active (it can be pending, however, which is a
811	difference to the C<ev_init> macro).	1194	difference to the C<ev_init> macro).
812		1195
813	Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments	1196	Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments
814	(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.	1197	(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.
815		1198
		1199	See C<ev_init>, above, for an example.
		1200
816	=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])	1201	=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])
817		1202
818	This convinience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro	1203	This convenience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro
819	calls into a single call. This is the most convinient method to initialise	1204	calls into a single call. This is the most convenient method to initialise
820	a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.	1205	a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.
821		1206
		1207	Example: Initialise and set an C<ev_io> watcher in one step.
		1208
		1209	ev_io_init (&w, my_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
		1210
822	=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)	1211	=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
823		1212
824	Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive	1213	Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive
825	events. If the watcher is already active nothing will happen.	1214	events. If the watcher is already active nothing will happen.
826		1215
		1216	Example: Start the C<ev_io> watcher that is being abused as example in this
		1217	whole section.
		1218
		1219	ev_io_start (EV_DEFAULT_UC, &w);
		1220
827	=item C<ev_TYPE_stop> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)	1221	=item C<ev_TYPE_stop> (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
828		1222
829	Stops the given watcher again (if active) and clears the pending	1223	Stops the given watcher if active, and clears the pending status (whether
		1224	the watcher was active or not).
		1225
830	status. It is possible that stopped watchers are pending (for example,	1226	It is possible that stopped watchers are pending - for example,
831	non-repeating timers are being stopped when they become pending), but	1227	non-repeating timers are being stopped when they become pending - but
832	C<ev_TYPE_stop> ensures that the watcher is neither active nor pending. If	1228	calling C<ev_TYPE_stop> ensures that the watcher is neither active nor
833	you want to free or reuse the memory used by the watcher it is therefore a	1229	pending. If you want to free or reuse the memory used by the watcher it is
834	good idea to always call its C<ev_TYPE_stop> function.	1230	therefore a good idea to always call its C<ev_TYPE_stop> function.
835		1231
836	=item bool ev_is_active (ev_TYPE *watcher)	1232	=item bool ev_is_active (ev_TYPE *watcher)
837		1233
838	Returns a true value iff the watcher is active (i.e. it has been started	1234	Returns a true value iff the watcher is active (i.e. it has been started
839	and not yet been stopped). As long as a watcher is active you must not modify	1235	and not yet been stopped). As long as a watcher is active you must not modify
…		…
855	=item ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)	1251	=item ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
856		1252
857	Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time	1253	Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
858	(modulo threads).	1254	(modulo threads).
859		1255
860	=item ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, priority)	1256	=item ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, int priority)
861		1257
862	=item int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)	1258	=item int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)
863		1259
864	Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small	1260	Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small
865	integer between C<EV_MAXPRI> (default: C<2>) and C<EV_MINPRI>	1261	integer between C<EV_MAXPRI> (default: C<2>) and C<EV_MINPRI>
866	(default: C<-2>). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked	1262	(default: C<-2>). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked
867	before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers	1263	before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers
868	from being executed (except for C<ev_idle> watchers).	1264	from being executed (except for C<ev_idle> watchers).
869		1265
870	This means that priorities are I<only> used for ordering callback
871	invocation after new events have been received. This is useful, for
872	example, to reduce latency after idling, or more often, to bind two
873	watchers on the same event and make sure one is called first.
874
875	If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending	1266	If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending
876	you need to look at C<ev_idle> watchers, which provide this functionality.	1267	you need to look at C<ev_idle> watchers, which provide this functionality.
877		1268
878	You I<must not> change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or	1269	You I<must not> change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or
879	pending.	1270	pending.
880		1271
		1272	Setting a priority outside the range of C<EV_MINPRI> to C<EV_MAXPRI> is
		1273	fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might
		1274	or might not have been clamped to the valid range.
		1275
881	The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is	1276	The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
882	always C<0>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).	1277	always C<0>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).
883		1278
884	Setting a priority outside the range of C<EV_MINPRI> to C<EV_MAXPRI> is	1279	See L<WATCHER PRIORITY MODELS>, below, for a more thorough treatment of
885	fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might	1280	priorities.
886	or might not have been adjusted to be within valid range.
887		1281
888	=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)	1282	=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
889		1283
890	Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither	1284	Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither
891	C<loop> nor C<revents> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback	1285	C<loop> nor C<revents> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
892	can deal with that fact.	1286	can deal with that fact, as both are simply passed through to the
		1287	callback.
893		1288
894	=item int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)	1289	=item int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
895		1290
896	If the watcher is pending, this function returns clears its pending status	1291	If the watcher is pending, this function clears its pending status and
897	and returns its C<revents> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the	1292	returns its C<revents> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
898	watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>.	1293	watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>.
899		1294
		1295	Sometimes it can be useful to "poll" a watcher instead of waiting for its
		1296	callback to be invoked, which can be accomplished with this function.
		1297
		1298	=item ev_feed_event (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
		1299
		1300	Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
		1301	had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
		1302	initialised but not necessarily started event watcher). Obviously you must
		1303	not free the watcher as long as it has pending events.
		1304
		1305	Stopping the watcher, letting libev invoke it, or calling
		1306	C<ev_clear_pending> will clear the pending event, even if the watcher was
		1307	not started in the first place.
		1308
		1309	See also C<ev_feed_fd_event> and C<ev_feed_signal_event> for related
		1310	functions that do not need a watcher.
		1311
900	=back	1312	=back
901		1313
902
903	=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER	1314	=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER
904		1315
905	Each watcher has, by default, a member C<void *data> that you can change	1316	Each watcher has, by default, a member C<void *data> that you can change
906	and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This can be used	1317	and read at any time: libev will completely ignore it. This can be used
907	to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and	1318	to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
908	don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data	1319	don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data
909	member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own	1320	member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own
910	data:	1321	data:
911		1322
912	struct my_io	1323	struct my_io
913	{	1324	{
914	struct ev_io io;	1325	ev_io io;
915	int otherfd;	1326	int otherfd;
916	void *somedata;	1327	void *somedata;
917	struct whatever *mostinteresting;	1328	struct whatever *mostinteresting;
918	}	1329	};
		1330
		1331	...
		1332	struct my_io w;
		1333	ev_io_init (&w.io, my_cb, fd, EV_READ);
919		1334
920	And since your callback will be called with a pointer to the watcher, you	1335	And since your callback will be called with a pointer to the watcher, you
921	can cast it back to your own type:	1336	can cast it back to your own type:
922		1337
923	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w_, int revents)	1338	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w_, int revents)
924	{	1339	{
925	struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;	1340	struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
926	...	1341	...
927	}	1342	}
928		1343
929	More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type	1344	More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type
930	instead have been omitted.	1345	instead have been omitted.
931		1346
932	Another common scenario is having some data structure with multiple	1347	Another common scenario is to use some data structure with multiple
933	watchers:	1348	embedded watchers:
934		1349
935	struct my_biggy	1350	struct my_biggy
936	{	1351	{
937	int some_data;	1352	int some_data;
938	ev_timer t1;	1353	ev_timer t1;
939	ev_timer t2;	1354	ev_timer t2;
940	}	1355	}
941		1356
942	In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more complicated,	1357	In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more
943	you need to use C<offsetof>:	1358	complicated: Either you store the address of your C<my_biggy> struct
		1359	in the C<data> member of the watcher (for woozies), or you need to use
		1360	some pointer arithmetic using C<offsetof> inside your watchers (for real
		1361	programmers):
944		1362
945	#include <stddef.h>	1363	#include <stddef.h>
946		1364
947	static void	1365	static void
948	t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	1366	t1_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
949	{	1367	{
950	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *	1368	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *)
951	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));	1369	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
952	}	1370	}
953		1371
954	static void	1372	static void
955	t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	1373	t2_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
956	{	1374	{
957	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *	1375	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *)
958	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));	1376	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
959	}	1377	}
		1378
		1379	=head2 WATCHER STATES
		1380
		1381	There are various watcher states mentioned throughout this manual -
		1382	active, pending and so on. In this section these states and the rules to
		1383	transition between them will be described in more detail - and while these
		1384	rules might look complicated, they usually do "the right thing".
		1385
		1386	=over 4
		1387
		1388	=item initialiased
		1389
		1390	Before a watcher can be registered with the event looop it has to be
		1391	initialised. This can be done with a call to C<ev_TYPE_init>, or calls to
		1392	C<ev_init> followed by the watcher-specific C<ev_TYPE_set> function.
		1393
		1394	In this state it is simply some block of memory that is suitable for use
		1395	in an event loop. It can be moved around, freed, reused etc. at will.
		1396
		1397	=item started/running/active
		1398
		1399	Once a watcher has been started with a call to C<ev_TYPE_start> it becomes
		1400	property of the event loop, and is actively waiting for events. While in
		1401	this state it cannot be accessed (except in a few documented ways), moved,
		1402	freed or anything else - the only legal thing is to keep a pointer to it,
		1403	and call libev functions on it that are documented to work on active watchers.
		1404
		1405	=item pending
		1406
		1407	If a watcher is active and libev determines that an event it is interested
		1408	in has occurred (such as a timer expiring), it will become pending. It will
		1409	stay in this pending state until either it is stopped or its callback is
		1410	about to be invoked, so it is not normally pending inside the watcher
		1411	callback.
		1412
		1413	The watcher might or might not be active while it is pending (for example,
		1414	an expired non-repeating timer can be pending but no longer active). If it
		1415	is stopped, it can be freely accessed (e.g. by calling C<ev_TYPE_set>),
		1416	but it is still property of the event loop at this time, so cannot be
		1417	moved, freed or reused. And if it is active the rules described in the
		1418	previous item still apply.
		1419
		1420	It is also possible to feed an event on a watcher that is not active (e.g.
		1421	via C<ev_feed_event>), in which case it becomes pending without being
		1422	active.
		1423
		1424	=item stopped
		1425
		1426	A watcher can be stopped implicitly by libev (in which case it might still
		1427	be pending), or explicitly by calling its C<ev_TYPE_stop> function. The
		1428	latter will clear any pending state the watcher might be in, regardless
		1429	of whether it was active or not, so stopping a watcher explicitly before
		1430	freeing it is often a good idea.
		1431
		1432	While stopped (and not pending) the watcher is essentially in the
		1433	initialised state, that is it can be reused, moved, modified in any way
		1434	you wish.
		1435
		1436	=back
		1437
		1438	=head2 WATCHER PRIORITY MODELS
		1439
		1440	Many event loops support I<watcher priorities>, which are usually small
		1441	integers that influence the ordering of event callback invocation
		1442	between watchers in some way, all else being equal.
		1443
		1444	In libev, Watcher priorities can be set using C<ev_set_priority>. See its
		1445	description for the more technical details such as the actual priority
		1446	range.
		1447
		1448	There are two common ways how these these priorities are being interpreted
		1449	by event loops:
		1450
		1451	In the more common lock-out model, higher priorities "lock out" invocation
		1452	of lower priority watchers, which means as long as higher priority
		1453	watchers receive events, lower priority watchers are not being invoked.
		1454
		1455	The less common only-for-ordering model uses priorities solely to order
		1456	callback invocation within a single event loop iteration: Higher priority
		1457	watchers are invoked before lower priority ones, but they all get invoked
		1458	before polling for new events.
		1459
		1460	Libev uses the second (only-for-ordering) model for all its watchers
		1461	except for idle watchers (which use the lock-out model).
		1462
		1463	The rationale behind this is that implementing the lock-out model for
		1464	watchers is not well supported by most kernel interfaces, and most event
		1465	libraries will just poll for the same events again and again as long as
		1466	their callbacks have not been executed, which is very inefficient in the
		1467	common case of one high-priority watcher locking out a mass of lower
		1468	priority ones.
		1469
		1470	Static (ordering) priorities are most useful when you have two or more
		1471	watchers handling the same resource: a typical usage example is having an
		1472	C<ev_io> watcher to receive data, and an associated C<ev_timer> to handle
		1473	timeouts. Under load, data might be received while the program handles
		1474	other jobs, but since timers normally get invoked first, the timeout
		1475	handler will be executed before checking for data. In that case, giving
		1476	the timer a lower priority than the I/O watcher ensures that I/O will be
		1477	handled first even under adverse conditions (which is usually, but not
		1478	always, what you want).
		1479
		1480	Since idle watchers use the "lock-out" model, meaning that idle watchers
		1481	will only be executed when no same or higher priority watchers have
		1482	received events, they can be used to implement the "lock-out" model when
		1483	required.
		1484
		1485	For example, to emulate how many other event libraries handle priorities,
		1486	you can associate an C<ev_idle> watcher to each such watcher, and in
		1487	the normal watcher callback, you just start the idle watcher. The real
		1488	processing is done in the idle watcher callback. This causes libev to
		1489	continuously poll and process kernel event data for the watcher, but when
		1490	the lock-out case is known to be rare (which in turn is rare :), this is
		1491	workable.
		1492
		1493	Usually, however, the lock-out model implemented that way will perform
		1494	miserably under the type of load it was designed to handle. In that case,
		1495	it might be preferable to stop the real watcher before starting the
		1496	idle watcher, so the kernel will not have to process the event in case
		1497	the actual processing will be delayed for considerable time.
		1498
		1499	Here is an example of an I/O watcher that should run at a strictly lower
		1500	priority than the default, and which should only process data when no
		1501	other events are pending:
		1502
		1503	ev_idle idle; // actual processing watcher
		1504	ev_io io; // actual event watcher
		1505
		1506	static void
		1507	io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
		1508	{
		1509	// stop the I/O watcher, we received the event, but
		1510	// are not yet ready to handle it.
		1511	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w);
		1512
		1513	// start the idle watcher to handle the actual event.
		1514	// it will not be executed as long as other watchers
		1515	// with the default priority are receiving events.
		1516	ev_idle_start (EV_A_ &idle);
		1517	}
		1518
		1519	static void
		1520	idle_cb (EV_P_ ev_idle *w, int revents)
		1521	{
		1522	// actual processing
		1523	read (STDIN_FILENO, ...);
		1524
		1525	// have to start the I/O watcher again, as
		1526	// we have handled the event
		1527	ev_io_start (EV_P_ &io);
		1528	}
		1529
		1530	// initialisation
		1531	ev_idle_init (&idle, idle_cb);
		1532	ev_io_init (&io, io_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
		1533	ev_io_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &io);
		1534
		1535	In the "real" world, it might also be beneficial to start a timer, so that
		1536	low-priority connections can not be locked out forever under load. This
		1537	enables your program to keep a lower latency for important connections
		1538	during short periods of high load, while not completely locking out less
		1539	important ones.
960		1540
961		1541
962	=head1 WATCHER TYPES	1542	=head1 WATCHER TYPES
963		1543
964	This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat	1544	This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat
…		…
988	In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per	1568	In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per
989	fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file	1569	fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file
990	descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not	1570	descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
991	required if you know what you are doing).	1571	required if you know what you are doing).
992		1572
993	If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend	1573	If you cannot use non-blocking mode, then force the use of a
994	(at the time of this writing, this includes only C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and	1574	known-to-be-good backend (at the time of this writing, this includes only
995	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>).	1575	C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and C<EVBACKEND_POLL>). The same applies to file
		1576	descriptors for which non-blocking operation makes no sense (such as
		1577	files) - libev doesn't guarantee any specific behaviour in that case.
996		1578
997	Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to	1579	Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
998	receive "spurious" readyness notifications, that is your callback might	1580	receive "spurious" readiness notifications, that is your callback might
999	be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block	1581	be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block
1000	because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a	1582	because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a
1001	lot of those (for example solaris ports), it is very easy to get into	1583	lot of those (for example Solaris ports), it is very easy to get into
1002	this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus	1584	this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus
1003	it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning	1585	it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning
1004	C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.	1586	C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.
1005		1587
1006	If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not	1588	If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should
1007	play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test	1589	not play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to separately
1008	whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface	1590	re-test whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good
1009	such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on	1591	interface such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already
1010	its own, so its quite safe to use).	1592	does this on its own, so its quite safe to use). Some people additionally
		1593	use C<SIGALRM> and an interval timer, just to be sure you won't block
		1594	indefinitely.
		1595
		1596	But really, best use non-blocking mode.
1011		1597
1012	=head3 The special problem of disappearing file descriptors	1598	=head3 The special problem of disappearing file descriptors
1013		1599
1014	Some backends (e.g. kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file	1600	Some backends (e.g. kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file
1015	descriptor (either by calling C<close> explicitly or by any other means,	1601	descriptor (either due to calling C<close> explicitly or any other means,
1016	such as C<dup>). The reason is that you register interest in some file	1602	such as C<dup2>). The reason is that you register interest in some file
1017	descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop	1603	descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop
1018	this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is	1604	this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is
1019	registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in	1605	registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in
1020	fact, a different file descriptor.	1606	fact, a different file descriptor.
1021		1607
…		…
1050	To support fork in your programs, you either have to call	1636	To support fork in your programs, you either have to call
1051	C<ev_default_fork ()> or C<ev_loop_fork ()> after a fork in the child,	1637	C<ev_default_fork ()> or C<ev_loop_fork ()> after a fork in the child,
1052	enable C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>, or resort to C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or	1638	enable C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>, or resort to C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or
1053	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.	1639	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1054		1640
		1641	=head3 The special problem of SIGPIPE
		1642
		1643	While not really specific to libev, it is easy to forget about C<SIGPIPE>:
		1644	when writing to a pipe whose other end has been closed, your program gets
		1645	sent a SIGPIPE, which, by default, aborts your program. For most programs
		1646	this is sensible behaviour, for daemons, this is usually undesirable.
		1647
		1648	So when you encounter spurious, unexplained daemon exits, make sure you
		1649	ignore SIGPIPE (and maybe make sure you log the exit status of your daemon
		1650	somewhere, as that would have given you a big clue).
		1651
		1652	=head3 The special problem of accept()ing when you can't
		1653
		1654	Many implementations of the POSIX C<accept> function (for example,
		1655	found in post-2004 Linux) have the peculiar behaviour of not removing a
		1656	connection from the pending queue in all error cases.
		1657
		1658	For example, larger servers often run out of file descriptors (because
		1659	of resource limits), causing C<accept> to fail with C<ENFILE> but not
		1660	rejecting the connection, leading to libev signalling readiness on
		1661	the next iteration again (the connection still exists after all), and
		1662	typically causing the program to loop at 100% CPU usage.
		1663
		1664	Unfortunately, the set of errors that cause this issue differs between
		1665	operating systems, there is usually little the app can do to remedy the
		1666	situation, and no known thread-safe method of removing the connection to
		1667	cope with overload is known (to me).
		1668
		1669	One of the easiest ways to handle this situation is to just ignore it
		1670	- when the program encounters an overload, it will just loop until the
		1671	situation is over. While this is a form of busy waiting, no OS offers an
		1672	event-based way to handle this situation, so it's the best one can do.
		1673
		1674	A better way to handle the situation is to log any errors other than
		1675	C<EAGAIN> and C<EWOULDBLOCK>, making sure not to flood the log with such
		1676	messages, and continue as usual, which at least gives the user an idea of
		1677	what could be wrong ("raise the ulimit!"). For extra points one could stop
		1678	the C<ev_io> watcher on the listening fd "for a while", which reduces CPU
		1679	usage.
		1680
		1681	If your program is single-threaded, then you could also keep a dummy file
		1682	descriptor for overload situations (e.g. by opening F</dev/null>), and
		1683	when you run into C<ENFILE> or C<EMFILE>, close it, run C<accept>,
		1684	close that fd, and create a new dummy fd. This will gracefully refuse
		1685	clients under typical overload conditions.
		1686
		1687	The last way to handle it is to simply log the error and C<exit>, as
		1688	is often done with C<malloc> failures, but this results in an easy
		1689	opportunity for a DoS attack.
1055		1690
1056	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions	1691	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions
1057		1692
1058	=over 4	1693	=over 4
1059		1694
1060	=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)	1695	=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)
1061		1696
1062	=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)	1697	=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)
1063		1698
1064	Configures an C<ev_io> watcher. The C<fd> is the file descriptor to	1699	Configures an C<ev_io> watcher. The C<fd> is the file descriptor to
1065	rceeive events for and events is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or	1700	receive events for and C<events> is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or
1066	C<EV_READ | EV_WRITE> to receive the given events.	1701	C<EV_READ | EV_WRITE>, to express the desire to receive the given events.
1067		1702
1068	=item int fd [read-only]	1703	=item int fd [read-only]
1069		1704
1070	The file descriptor being watched.	1705	The file descriptor being watched.
1071		1706
…		…
1079		1714
1080	Example: Call C<stdin_readable_cb> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well	1715	Example: Call C<stdin_readable_cb> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well
1081	readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could	1716	readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could
1082	attempt to read a whole line in the callback.	1717	attempt to read a whole line in the callback.
1083		1718
1084	static void	1719	static void
1085	stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)	1720	stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
1086	{	1721	{
1087	ev_io_stop (loop, w);	1722	ev_io_stop (loop, w);
1088	.. read from stdin here (or from w->fd) and haqndle any I/O errors	1723	.. read from stdin here (or from w->fd) and handle any I/O errors
1089	}	1724	}
1090		1725
1091	...	1726	...
1092	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);	1727	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
1093	struct ev_io stdin_readable;	1728	ev_io stdin_readable;
1094	ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);	1729	ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
1095	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);	1730	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);
1096	ev_loop (loop, 0);	1731	ev_run (loop, 0);
1097		1732
1098		1733
1099	=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts	1734	=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts
1100		1735
1101	Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a	1736	Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a
1102	given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.	1737	given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.
1103		1738
1104	The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that	1739	The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that
1105	times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to last years	1740	times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to January last
1106	time, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. "Roughly" because	1741	year, it will still time out after (roughly) one hour. "Roughly" because
1107	detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the	1742	detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the
1108	monotonic clock option helps a lot here).	1743	monotonic clock option helps a lot here).
		1744
		1745	The callback is guaranteed to be invoked only I<after> its timeout has
		1746	passed (not I<at>, so on systems with very low-resolution clocks this
		1747	might introduce a small delay). If multiple timers become ready during the
		1748	same loop iteration then the ones with earlier time-out values are invoked
		1749	before ones of the same priority with later time-out values (but this is
		1750	no longer true when a callback calls C<ev_run> recursively).
		1751
		1752	=head3 Be smart about timeouts
		1753
		1754	Many real-world problems involve some kind of timeout, usually for error
		1755	recovery. A typical example is an HTTP request - if the other side hangs,
		1756	you want to raise some error after a while.
		1757
		1758	What follows are some ways to handle this problem, from obvious and
		1759	inefficient to smart and efficient.
		1760
		1761	In the following, a 60 second activity timeout is assumed - a timeout that
		1762	gets reset to 60 seconds each time there is activity (e.g. each time some
		1763	data or other life sign was received).
		1764
		1765	=over 4
		1766
		1767	=item 1. Use a timer and stop, reinitialise and start it on activity.
		1768
		1769	This is the most obvious, but not the most simple way: In the beginning,
		1770	start the watcher:
		1771
		1772	ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 60., 0.);
		1773	ev_timer_start (loop, timer);
		1774
		1775	Then, each time there is some activity, C<ev_timer_stop> it, initialise it
		1776	and start it again:
		1777
		1778	ev_timer_stop (loop, timer);
		1779	ev_timer_set (timer, 60., 0.);
		1780	ev_timer_start (loop, timer);
		1781
		1782	This is relatively simple to implement, but means that each time there is
		1783	some activity, libev will first have to remove the timer from its internal
		1784	data structure and then add it again. Libev tries to be fast, but it's
		1785	still not a constant-time operation.
		1786
		1787	=item 2. Use a timer and re-start it with C<ev_timer_again> inactivity.
		1788
		1789	This is the easiest way, and involves using C<ev_timer_again> instead of
		1790	C<ev_timer_start>.
		1791
		1792	To implement this, configure an C<ev_timer> with a C<repeat> value
		1793	of C<60> and then call C<ev_timer_again> at start and each time you
		1794	successfully read or write some data. If you go into an idle state where
		1795	you do not expect data to travel on the socket, you can C<ev_timer_stop>
		1796	the timer, and C<ev_timer_again> will automatically restart it if need be.
		1797
		1798	That means you can ignore both the C<ev_timer_start> function and the
		1799	C<after> argument to C<ev_timer_set>, and only ever use the C<repeat>
		1800	member and C<ev_timer_again>.
		1801
		1802	At start:
		1803
		1804	ev_init (timer, callback);
		1805	timer->repeat = 60.;
		1806	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
		1807
		1808	Each time there is some activity:
		1809
		1810	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
		1811
		1812	It is even possible to change the time-out on the fly, regardless of
		1813	whether the watcher is active or not:
		1814
		1815	timer->repeat = 30.;
		1816	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
		1817
		1818	This is slightly more efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time
		1819	you want to modify its timeout value, as libev does not have to completely
		1820	remove and re-insert the timer from/into its internal data structure.
		1821
		1822	It is, however, even simpler than the "obvious" way to do it.
		1823
		1824	=item 3. Let the timer time out, but then re-arm it as required.
		1825
		1826	This method is more tricky, but usually most efficient: Most timeouts are
		1827	relatively long compared to the intervals between other activity - in
		1828	our example, within 60 seconds, there are usually many I/O events with
		1829	associated activity resets.
		1830
		1831	In this case, it would be more efficient to leave the C<ev_timer> alone,
		1832	but remember the time of last activity, and check for a real timeout only
		1833	within the callback:
		1834
		1835	ev_tstamp last_activity; // time of last activity
		1836
		1837	static void
		1838	callback (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
		1839	{
		1840	ev_tstamp now = ev_now (EV_A);
		1841	ev_tstamp timeout = last_activity + 60.;
		1842
		1843	// if last_activity + 60. is older than now, we did time out
		1844	if (timeout < now)
		1845	{
		1846	// timeout occurred, take action
		1847	}
		1848	else
		1849	{
		1850	// callback was invoked, but there was some activity, re-arm
		1851	// the watcher to fire in last_activity + 60, which is
		1852	// guaranteed to be in the future, so "again" is positive:
		1853	w->repeat = timeout - now;
		1854	ev_timer_again (EV_A_ w);
		1855	}
		1856	}
		1857
		1858	To summarise the callback: first calculate the real timeout (defined
		1859	as "60 seconds after the last activity"), then check if that time has
		1860	been reached, which means something I<did>, in fact, time out. Otherwise
		1861	the callback was invoked too early (C<timeout> is in the future), so
		1862	re-schedule the timer to fire at that future time, to see if maybe we have
		1863	a timeout then.
		1864
		1865	Note how C<ev_timer_again> is used, taking advantage of the
		1866	C<ev_timer_again> optimisation when the timer is already running.
		1867
		1868	This scheme causes more callback invocations (about one every 60 seconds
		1869	minus half the average time between activity), but virtually no calls to
		1870	libev to change the timeout.
		1871
		1872	To start the timer, simply initialise the watcher and set C<last_activity>
		1873	to the current time (meaning we just have some activity :), then call the
		1874	callback, which will "do the right thing" and start the timer:
		1875
		1876	ev_init (timer, callback);
		1877	last_activity = ev_now (loop);
		1878	callback (loop, timer, EV_TIMER);
		1879
		1880	And when there is some activity, simply store the current time in
		1881	C<last_activity>, no libev calls at all:
		1882
		1883	last_activity = ev_now (loop);
		1884
		1885	This technique is slightly more complex, but in most cases where the
		1886	time-out is unlikely to be triggered, much more efficient.
		1887
		1888	Changing the timeout is trivial as well (if it isn't hard-coded in the
		1889	callback :) - just change the timeout and invoke the callback, which will
		1890	fix things for you.
		1891
		1892	=item 4. Wee, just use a double-linked list for your timeouts.
		1893
		1894	If there is not one request, but many thousands (millions...), all
		1895	employing some kind of timeout with the same timeout value, then one can
		1896	do even better:
		1897
		1898	When starting the timeout, calculate the timeout value and put the timeout
		1899	at the I<end> of the list.
		1900
		1901	Then use an C<ev_timer> to fire when the timeout at the I<beginning> of
		1902	the list is expected to fire (for example, using the technique #3).
		1903
		1904	When there is some activity, remove the timer from the list, recalculate
		1905	the timeout, append it to the end of the list again, and make sure to
		1906	update the C<ev_timer> if it was taken from the beginning of the list.
		1907
		1908	This way, one can manage an unlimited number of timeouts in O(1) time for
		1909	starting, stopping and updating the timers, at the expense of a major
		1910	complication, and having to use a constant timeout. The constant timeout
		1911	ensures that the list stays sorted.
		1912
		1913	=back
		1914
		1915	So which method the best?
		1916
		1917	Method #2 is a simple no-brain-required solution that is adequate in most
		1918	situations. Method #3 requires a bit more thinking, but handles many cases
		1919	better, and isn't very complicated either. In most case, choosing either
		1920	one is fine, with #3 being better in typical situations.
		1921
		1922	Method #1 is almost always a bad idea, and buys you nothing. Method #4 is
		1923	rather complicated, but extremely efficient, something that really pays
		1924	off after the first million or so of active timers, i.e. it's usually
		1925	overkill :)
		1926
		1927	=head3 The special problem of time updates
		1928
		1929	Establishing the current time is a costly operation (it usually takes at
		1930	least two system calls): EV therefore updates its idea of the current
		1931	time only before and after C<ev_run> collects new events, which causes a
		1932	growing difference between C<ev_now ()> and C<ev_time ()> when handling
		1933	lots of events in one iteration.
1109		1934
1110	The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>	1935	The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>
1111	time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time	1936	time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time
1112	of the event triggering whatever timeout you are modifying/starting. If	1937	of the event triggering whatever timeout you are modifying/starting. If
1113	you suspect event processing to be delayed and you I<need> to base the timeout	1938	you suspect event processing to be delayed and you I<need> to base the
1114	on the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:	1939	timeout on the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:
1115		1940
1116	ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);	1941	ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);
1117		1942
1118	The callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when its timeout has passed,	1943	If the event loop is suspended for a long time, you can also force an
1119	but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then	1944	update of the time returned by C<ev_now ()> by calling C<ev_now_update
1120	order of execution is undefined.	1945	()>.
		1946
		1947	=head3 The special problems of suspended animation
		1948
		1949	When you leave the server world it is quite customary to hit machines that
		1950	can suspend/hibernate - what happens to the clocks during such a suspend?
		1951
		1952	Some quick tests made with a Linux 2.6.28 indicate that a suspend freezes
		1953	all processes, while the clocks (C<times>, C<CLOCK_MONOTONIC>) continue
		1954	to run until the system is suspended, but they will not advance while the
		1955	system is suspended. That means, on resume, it will be as if the program
		1956	was frozen for a few seconds, but the suspend time will not be counted
		1957	towards C<ev_timer> when a monotonic clock source is used. The real time
		1958	clock advanced as expected, but if it is used as sole clocksource, then a
		1959	long suspend would be detected as a time jump by libev, and timers would
		1960	be adjusted accordingly.
		1961
		1962	I would not be surprised to see different behaviour in different between
		1963	operating systems, OS versions or even different hardware.
		1964
		1965	The other form of suspend (job control, or sending a SIGSTOP) will see a
		1966	time jump in the monotonic clocks and the realtime clock. If the program
		1967	is suspended for a very long time, and monotonic clock sources are in use,
		1968	then you can expect C<ev_timer>s to expire as the full suspension time
		1969	will be counted towards the timers. When no monotonic clock source is in
		1970	use, then libev will again assume a timejump and adjust accordingly.
		1971
		1972	It might be beneficial for this latter case to call C<ev_suspend>
		1973	and C<ev_resume> in code that handles C<SIGTSTP>, to at least get
		1974	deterministic behaviour in this case (you can do nothing against
		1975	C<SIGSTOP>).
1121		1976
1122	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	1977	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1123		1978
1124	=over 4	1979	=over 4
1125		1980
1126	=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)	1981	=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)
1127		1982
1128	=item ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)	1983	=item ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)
1129		1984
1130	Configure the timer to trigger after C<after> seconds. If C<repeat> is	1985	Configure the timer to trigger after C<after> seconds. If C<repeat>
1131	C<0.>, then it will automatically be stopped. If it is positive, then the	1986	is C<0.>, then it will automatically be stopped once the timeout is
1132	timer will automatically be configured to trigger again C<repeat> seconds	1987	reached. If it is positive, then the timer will automatically be
1133	later, again, and again, until stopped manually.	1988	configured to trigger again C<repeat> seconds later, again, and again,
		1989	until stopped manually.
1134		1990
1135	The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if you	1991	The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if
1136	configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will trigger at	1992	you configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will normally
1137	exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot keep up with	1993	trigger at exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot
1138	the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to do stuff) the	1994	keep up with the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to
1139	timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.	1995	do stuff) the timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.
1140		1996
1141	=item ev_timer_again (loop)	1997	=item ev_timer_again (loop, ev_timer *)
1142		1998
1143	This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is	1999	This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
1144	repeating. The exact semantics are:	2000	repeating. The exact semantics are:
1145		2001
1146	If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.	2002	If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.
1147		2003
1148	If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it (as if it timed out).	2004	If the timer is started but non-repeating, stop it (as if it timed out).
1149		2005
1150	If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the	2006	If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the
1151	C<repeat> value), or reset the running timer to the C<repeat> value.	2007	C<repeat> value), or reset the running timer to the C<repeat> value.
1152		2008
1153	This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical	2009	This sounds a bit complicated, see L<Be smart about timeouts>, above, for a
1154	example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle	2010	usage example.
1155	timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60
1156	seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to
1157	configure an C<ev_timer> with a C<repeat> value of C<60> and then call
1158	C<ev_timer_again> each time you successfully read or write some data. If
1159	you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the
1160	socket, you can C<ev_timer_stop> the timer, and C<ev_timer_again> will
1161	automatically restart it if need be.
1162		2011
1163	That means you can ignore the C<after> value and C<ev_timer_start>	2012	=item ev_tstamp ev_timer_remaining (loop, ev_timer *)
1164	altogether and only ever use the C<repeat> value and C<ev_timer_again>:
1165		2013
1166	ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);	2014	Returns the remaining time until a timer fires. If the timer is active,
1167	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);	2015	then this time is relative to the current event loop time, otherwise it's
1168	...	2016	the timeout value currently configured.
1169	timer->again = 17.;
1170	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1171	...
1172	timer->again = 10.;
1173	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1174		2017
1175	This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time	2018	That is, after an C<ev_timer_set (w, 5, 7)>, C<ev_timer_remaining> returns
1176	you want to modify its timeout value.	2019	C<5>. When the timer is started and one second passes, C<ev_timer_remaining>
		2020	will return C<4>. When the timer expires and is restarted, it will return
		2021	roughly C<7> (likely slightly less as callback invocation takes some time,
		2022	too), and so on.
1177		2023
1178	=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]	2024	=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]
1179		2025
1180	The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out	2026	The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
1181	or C<ev_timer_again> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),	2027	or C<ev_timer_again> is called, and determines the next timeout (if any),
1182	which is also when any modifications are taken into account.	2028	which is also when any modifications are taken into account.
1183		2029
1184	=back	2030	=back
1185		2031
1186	=head3 Examples	2032	=head3 Examples
1187		2033
1188	Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.	2034	Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.
1189		2035
1190	static void	2036	static void
1191	one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	2037	one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_timer *w, int revents)
1192	{	2038	{
1193	.. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here	2039	.. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here
1194	}	2040	}
1195		2041
1196	struct ev_timer mytimer;	2042	ev_timer mytimer;
1197	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);	2043	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);
1198	ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);	2044	ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);
1199		2045
1200	Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of	2046	Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
1201	inactivity.	2047	inactivity.
1202		2048
1203	static void	2049	static void
1204	timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	2050	timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_timer *w, int revents)
1205	{	2051	{
1206	.. ten seconds without any activity	2052	.. ten seconds without any activity
1207	}	2053	}
1208		2054
1209	struct ev_timer mytimer;	2055	ev_timer mytimer;
1210	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */	2056	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */
1211	ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */	2057	ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */
1212	ev_loop (loop, 0);	2058	ev_run (loop, 0);
1213		2059
1214	// and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":	2060	// and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":
1215	// reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds	2061	// reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds
1216	ev_timer_again (&mytimer);	2062	ev_timer_again (&mytimer);
1217		2063
1218		2064
1219	=head2 C<ev_periodic> - to cron or not to cron?	2065	=head2 C<ev_periodic> - to cron or not to cron?
1220		2066
1221	Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile	2067	Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile
1222	(and unfortunately a bit complex).	2068	(and unfortunately a bit complex).
1223		2069
1224	Unlike C<ev_timer>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time)	2070	Unlike C<ev_timer>, periodic watchers are not based on real time (or
1225	but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher	2071	relative time, the physical time that passes) but on wall clock time
1226	to trigger "at" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a	2072	(absolute time, the thing you can read on your calender or clock). The
1227	periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. C<ev_now ()	2073	difference is that wall clock time can run faster or slower than real
1228	+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will	2074	time, and time jumps are not uncommon (e.g. when you adjust your
1229	take a year to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would trigger	2075	wrist-watch).
1230	roughly 10 seconds later).
1231		2076
1232	They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as	2077	You can tell a periodic watcher to trigger after some specific point
1233	triggering an event on each midnight, local time or other, complicated,	2078	in time: for example, if you tell a periodic watcher to trigger "in 10
1234	rules.	2079	seconds" (by specifying e.g. C<ev_now () + 10.>, that is, an absolute time
		2080	not a delay) and then reset your system clock to January of the previous
		2081	year, then it will take a year or more to trigger the event (unlike an
		2082	C<ev_timer>, which would still trigger roughly 10 seconds after starting
		2083	it, as it uses a relative timeout).
1235		2084
		2085	C<ev_periodic> watchers can also be used to implement vastly more complex
		2086	timers, such as triggering an event on each "midnight, local time", or
		2087	other complicated rules. This cannot be done with C<ev_timer> watchers, as
		2088	those cannot react to time jumps.
		2089
1236	As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the	2090	As with timers, the callback is guaranteed to be invoked only when the
1237	time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready	2091	point in time where it is supposed to trigger has passed. If multiple
1238	during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.	2092	timers become ready during the same loop iteration then the ones with
		2093	earlier time-out values are invoked before ones with later time-out values
		2094	(but this is no longer true when a callback calls C<ev_run> recursively).
1239		2095
1240	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	2096	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1241		2097
1242	=over 4	2098	=over 4
1243		2099
1244	=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)	2100	=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp offset, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)
1245		2101
1246	=item ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)	2102	=item ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp offset, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)
1247		2103
1248	Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of	2104	Lots of arguments, let's sort it out... There are basically three modes of
1249	operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:	2105	operation, and we will explain them from simplest to most complex:
1250		2106
1251	=over 4	2107	=over 4
1252		2108
1253	=item * absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)	2109	=item * absolute timer (offset = absolute time, interval = 0, reschedule_cb = 0)
1254		2110
1255	In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time	2111	In this configuration the watcher triggers an event after the wall clock
1256	C<at> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs,	2112	time C<offset> has passed. It will not repeat and will not adjust when a
1257	that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the	2113	time jump occurs, that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it
1258	system time reaches or surpasses this time.	2114	will be stopped and invoked when the system clock reaches or surpasses
		2115	this point in time.
1259		2116
1260	=item * non-repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)	2117	=item * repeating interval timer (offset = offset within interval, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)
1261		2118
1262	In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next	2119	In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next
1263	C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)	2120	C<offset + N * interval> time (for some integer N, which can also be
1264	and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps.	2121	negative) and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps. The C<offset>
		2122	argument is merely an offset into the C<interval> periods.
1265		2123
1266	This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system	2124	This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to the
1267	time:	2125	system clock, for example, here is an C<ev_periodic> that triggers each
		2126	hour, on the hour (with respect to UTC):
1268		2127
1269	ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);	2128	ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);
1270		2129
1271	This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers,	2130	This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers,
1272	but only that the the callback will be called when the system time shows a	2131	but only that the callback will be called when the system time shows a
1273	full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible	2132	full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible
1274	by 3600.	2133	by 3600.
1275		2134
1276	Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that	2135	Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
1277	C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible	2136	C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
1278	time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.	2137	time where C<time = offset (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.
1279		2138
1280	For numerical stability it is preferable that the C<at> value is near	2139	For numerical stability it is preferable that the C<offset> value is near
1281	C<ev_now ()> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for	2140	C<ev_now ()> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
1282	this value.	2141	this value, and in fact is often specified as zero.
1283		2142
		2143	Note also that there is an upper limit to how often a timer can fire (CPU
		2144	speed for example), so if C<interval> is very small then timing stability
		2145	will of course deteriorate. Libev itself tries to be exact to be about one
		2146	millisecond (if the OS supports it and the machine is fast enough).
		2147
1284	=item * manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)	2148	=item * manual reschedule mode (offset ignored, interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)
1285		2149
1286	In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being	2150	In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<offset> are both being
1287	ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the	2151	ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
1288	reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the	2152	reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
1289	current time as second argument.	2153	current time as second argument.
1290		2154
1291	NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,	2155	NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher, ever,
1292	ever, or make any event loop modifications>. If you need to stop it,	2156	or make ANY other event loop modifications whatsoever, unless explicitly
1293	return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by	2157	allowed by documentation here>.
1294	starting an C<ev_prepare> watcher, which is legal).
1295		2158
		2159	If you need to stop it, return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop
		2160	it afterwards (e.g. by starting an C<ev_prepare> watcher, which is the
		2161	only event loop modification you are allowed to do).
		2162
1296	Its prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,	2163	The callback prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(ev_periodic
1297	ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:	2164	*w, ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:
1298		2165
		2166	static ev_tstamp
1299	static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)	2167	my_rescheduler (ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1300	{	2168	{
1301	return now + 60.;	2169	return now + 60.;
1302	}	2170	}
1303		2171
1304	It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value	2172	It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value
1305	(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It	2173	(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It
1306	will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but	2174	will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but
1307	might be called at other times, too.	2175	might be called at other times, too.
1308		2176
1309	NOTE: I<< This callback must always return a time that is later than the	2177	NOTE: I<< This callback must always return a time that is higher than or
1310	passed C<now> value >>. Not even C<now> itself will do, it I<must> be larger.	2178	equal to the passed C<now> value >>.
1311		2179
1312	This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that	2180	This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that
1313	triggers on each midnight, local time. To do this, you would calculate the	2181	triggers on "next midnight, local time". To do this, you would calculate the
1314	next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How	2182	next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How
1315	you do this is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial, which is the main	2183	you do this is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial, which is the main
1316	reason I omitted it as an example).	2184	reason I omitted it as an example).
1317		2185
1318	=back	2186	=back
…		…
1322	Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful	2190	Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
1323	when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return	2191	when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return
1324	a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like	2192	a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
1325	program when the crontabs have changed).	2193	program when the crontabs have changed).
1326		2194
		2195	=item ev_tstamp ev_periodic_at (ev_periodic *)
		2196
		2197	When active, returns the absolute time that the watcher is supposed
		2198	to trigger next. This is not the same as the C<offset> argument to
		2199	C<ev_periodic_set>, but indeed works even in interval and manual
		2200	rescheduling modes.
		2201
1327	=item ev_tstamp offset [read-write]	2202	=item ev_tstamp offset [read-write]
1328		2203
1329	When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the	2204	When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
1330	absolute point in time (the C<at> value passed to C<ev_periodic_set>).	2205	absolute point in time (the C<offset> value passed to C<ev_periodic_set>,
		2206	although libev might modify this value for better numerical stability).
1331		2207
1332	Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic	2208	Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
1333	timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.	2209	timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1334		2210
1335	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]	2211	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]
1336		2212
1337	The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only	2213	The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1338	take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being	2214	take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being
1339	called.	2215	called.
1340		2216
1341	=item ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read-write]	2217	=item ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read-write]
1342		2218
1343	The current reschedule callback, or C<0>, if this functionality is	2219	The current reschedule callback, or C<0>, if this functionality is
1344	switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when	2220	switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
1345	the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.	2221	the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1346		2222
1347	=item ev_tstamp at [read-only]
1348
1349	When active, contains the absolute time that the watcher is supposed to
1350	trigger next.
1351
1352	=back	2223	=back
1353		2224
1354	=head3 Examples	2225	=head3 Examples
1355		2226
1356	Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the	2227	Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
1357	system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have	2228	system time is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
1358	potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.	2229	potentially a lot of jitter, but good long-term stability.
1359		2230
1360	static void	2231	static void
1361	clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)	2232	clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_periodic *w, int revents)
1362	{	2233	{
1363	... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)	2234	... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)
1364	}	2235	}
1365		2236
1366	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;	2237	ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1367	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);	2238	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);
1368	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);	2239	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1369		2240
1370	Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:	2241	Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:
1371		2242
1372	#include <math.h>	2243	#include <math.h>
1373		2244
1374	static ev_tstamp	2245	static ev_tstamp
1375	my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)	2246	my_scheduler_cb (ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1376	{	2247	{
1377	return fmod (now, 3600.) + 3600.;	2248	return now + (3600. - fmod (now, 3600.));
1378	}	2249	}
1379		2250
1380	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);	2251	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);
1381		2252
1382	Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:	2253	Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:
1383		2254
1384	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;	2255	ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1385	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,	2256	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,
1386	fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);	2257	fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);
1387	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);	2258	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1388		2259
1389		2260
1390	=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!	2261	=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!
1391		2262
1392	Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific	2263	Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
1393	signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev	2264	signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev
1394	will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the	2265	will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the
1395	normal event processing, like any other event.	2266	normal event processing, like any other event.
1396		2267
		2268	If you want signals to be delivered truly asynchronously, just use
		2269	C<sigaction> as you would do without libev and forget about sharing
		2270	the signal. You can even use C<ev_async> from a signal handler to
		2271	synchronously wake up an event loop.
		2272
1397	You can configure as many watchers as you like per signal. Only when the	2273	You can configure as many watchers as you like for the same signal, but
		2274	only within the same loop, i.e. you can watch for C<SIGINT> in your
		2275	default loop and for C<SIGIO> in another loop, but you cannot watch for
		2276	C<SIGINT> in both the default loop and another loop at the same time. At
		2277	the moment, C<SIGCHLD> is permanently tied to the default loop.
		2278
1398	first watcher gets started will libev actually register a signal watcher	2279	When the first watcher gets started will libev actually register something
1399	with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long	2280	with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long as
1400	as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal	2281	you don't register any with libev for the same signal).
1401	watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to	2282
1402	SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before).	2283	If possible and supported, libev will install its handlers with
		2284	C<SA_RESTART> (or equivalent) behaviour enabled, so system calls should
		2285	not be unduly interrupted. If you have a problem with system calls getting
		2286	interrupted by signals you can block all signals in an C<ev_check> watcher
		2287	and unblock them in an C<ev_prepare> watcher.
		2288
		2289	=head3 The special problem of inheritance over fork/execve/pthread_create
		2290
		2291	Both the signal mask (C<sigprocmask>) and the signal disposition
		2292	(C<sigaction>) are unspecified after starting a signal watcher (and after
		2293	stopping it again), that is, libev might or might not block the signal,
		2294	and might or might not set or restore the installed signal handler.
		2295
		2296	While this does not matter for the signal disposition (libev never
		2297	sets signals to C<SIG_IGN>, so handlers will be reset to C<SIG_DFL> on
		2298	C<execve>), this matters for the signal mask: many programs do not expect
		2299	certain signals to be blocked.
		2300
		2301	This means that before calling C<exec> (from the child) you should reset
		2302	the signal mask to whatever "default" you expect (all clear is a good
		2303	choice usually).
		2304
		2305	The simplest way to ensure that the signal mask is reset in the child is
		2306	to install a fork handler with C<pthread_atfork> that resets it. That will
		2307	catch fork calls done by libraries (such as the libc) as well.
		2308
		2309	In current versions of libev, the signal will not be blocked indefinitely
		2310	unless you use the C<signalfd> API (C<EV_SIGNALFD>). While this reduces
		2311	the window of opportunity for problems, it will not go away, as libev
		2312	I<has> to modify the signal mask, at least temporarily.
		2313
		2314	So I can't stress this enough: I<If you do not reset your signal mask when
		2315	you expect it to be empty, you have a race condition in your code>. This
		2316	is not a libev-specific thing, this is true for most event libraries.
1403		2317
1404	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	2318	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1405		2319
1406	=over 4	2320	=over 4
1407		2321
…		…
1416		2330
1417	The signal the watcher watches out for.	2331	The signal the watcher watches out for.
1418		2332
1419	=back	2333	=back
1420		2334
		2335	=head3 Examples
		2336
		2337	Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT.
		2338
		2339	static void
		2340	sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_signal *w, int revents)
		2341	{
		2342	ev_break (loop, EVBREAK_ALL);
		2343	}
		2344
		2345	ev_signal signal_watcher;
		2346	ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);
		2347	ev_signal_start (loop, &signal_watcher);
		2348
1421		2349
1422	=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes	2350	=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes
1423		2351
1424	Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to	2352	Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to
1425	some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).	2353	some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies or
		2354	exits). It is permissible to install a child watcher I<after> the child
		2355	has been forked (which implies it might have already exited), as long
		2356	as the event loop isn't entered (or is continued from a watcher), i.e.,
		2357	forking and then immediately registering a watcher for the child is fine,
		2358	but forking and registering a watcher a few event loop iterations later or
		2359	in the next callback invocation is not.
		2360
		2361	Only the default event loop is capable of handling signals, and therefore
		2362	you can only register child watchers in the default event loop.
		2363
		2364	Due to some design glitches inside libev, child watchers will always be
		2365	handled at maximum priority (their priority is set to C<EV_MAXPRI> by
		2366	libev)
		2367
		2368	=head3 Process Interaction
		2369
		2370	Libev grabs C<SIGCHLD> as soon as the default event loop is
		2371	initialised. This is necessary to guarantee proper behaviour even if the
		2372	first child watcher is started after the child exits. The occurrence
		2373	of C<SIGCHLD> is recorded asynchronously, but child reaping is done
		2374	synchronously as part of the event loop processing. Libev always reaps all
		2375	children, even ones not watched.
		2376
		2377	=head3 Overriding the Built-In Processing
		2378
		2379	Libev offers no special support for overriding the built-in child
		2380	processing, but if your application collides with libev's default child
		2381	handler, you can override it easily by installing your own handler for
		2382	C<SIGCHLD> after initialising the default loop, and making sure the
		2383	default loop never gets destroyed. You are encouraged, however, to use an
		2384	event-based approach to child reaping and thus use libev's support for
		2385	that, so other libev users can use C<ev_child> watchers freely.
		2386
		2387	=head3 Stopping the Child Watcher
		2388
		2389	Currently, the child watcher never gets stopped, even when the
		2390	child terminates, so normally one needs to stop the watcher in the
		2391	callback. Future versions of libev might stop the watcher automatically
		2392	when a child exit is detected (calling C<ev_child_stop> twice is not a
		2393	problem).
1426		2394
1427	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	2395	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1428		2396
1429	=over 4	2397	=over 4
1430		2398
1431	=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)	2399	=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid, int trace)
1432		2400
1433	=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)	2401	=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid, int trace)
1434		2402
1435	Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or	2403	Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or
1436	I<any> process if C<pid> is specified as C<0>). The callback can look	2404	I<any> process if C<pid> is specified as C<0>). The callback can look
1437	at the C<rstatus> member of the C<ev_child> watcher structure to see	2405	at the C<rstatus> member of the C<ev_child> watcher structure to see
1438	the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h> and see your systems	2406	the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h> and see your systems
1439	C<waitpid> documentation). The C<rpid> member contains the pid of the	2407	C<waitpid> documentation). The C<rpid> member contains the pid of the
1440	process causing the status change.	2408	process causing the status change. C<trace> must be either C<0> (only
		2409	activate the watcher when the process terminates) or C<1> (additionally
		2410	activate the watcher when the process is stopped or continued).
1441		2411
1442	=item int pid [read-only]	2412	=item int pid [read-only]
1443		2413
1444	The process id this watcher watches out for, or C<0>, meaning any process id.	2414	The process id this watcher watches out for, or C<0>, meaning any process id.
1445		2415
…		…
1454		2424
1455	=back	2425	=back
1456		2426
1457	=head3 Examples	2427	=head3 Examples
1458		2428
1459	Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.	2429	Example: C<fork()> a new process and install a child handler to wait for
		2430	its completion.
1460		2431
		2432	ev_child cw;
		2433
1461	static void	2434	static void
1462	sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)	2435	child_cb (EV_P_ ev_child *w, int revents)
1463	{	2436	{
1464	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);	2437	ev_child_stop (EV_A_ w);
		2438	printf ("process %d exited with status %x\n", w->rpid, w->rstatus);
1465	}	2439	}
1466		2440
1467	struct ev_signal signal_watcher;	2441	pid_t pid = fork ();
1468	ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);	2442
1469	ev_signal_start (loop, &sigint_cb);	2443	if (pid < 0)
		2444	// error
		2445	else if (pid == 0)
		2446	{
		2447	// the forked child executes here
		2448	exit (1);
		2449	}
		2450	else
		2451	{
		2452	ev_child_init (&cw, child_cb, pid, 0);
		2453	ev_child_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &cw);
		2454	}
1470		2455
1471		2456
1472	=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?	2457	=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?
1473		2458
1474	This watches a filesystem path for attribute changes. That is, it calls	2459	This watches a file system path for attribute changes. That is, it calls
1475	C<stat> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed	2460	C<stat> on that path in regular intervals (or when the OS says it changed)
1476	compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.	2461	and sees if it changed compared to the last time, invoking the callback if
		2462	it did.
1477		2463
1478	The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does	2464	The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does
1479	not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does	2465	not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does not
1480	not exist" is signified by the C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is	2466	exist" (or more correctly "path cannot be stat'ed") is signified by the
1481	otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of	2467	C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is otherwise always forced to be at
1482	the stat buffer having unspecified contents.	2468	least one) and all the other fields of the stat buffer having unspecified
		2469	contents.
1483		2470
1484	The path I<should> be absolute and I<must not> end in a slash. If it is	2471	The path I<must not> end in a slash or contain special components such as
		2472	C<.> or C<..>. The path I<should> be absolute: If it is relative and
1485	relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.	2473	your working directory changes, then the behaviour is undefined.
1486		2474
1487	Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply	2475	Since there is no portable change notification interface available, the
1488	calls C<stat (2)> regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You	2476	portable implementation simply calls C<stat(2)> regularly on the path
1489	can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify	2477	to see if it changed somehow. You can specify a recommended polling
1490	a polling interval of C<0> (highly recommended!) then a I<suitable,	2478	interval for this case. If you specify a polling interval of C<0> (highly
1491	unspecified default> value will be used (which you can expect to be around	2479	recommended!) then a I<suitable, unspecified default> value will be used
1492	five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also	2480	(which you can expect to be around five seconds, although this might
1493	impose a minimum interval which is currently around C<0.1>, but thats	2481	change dynamically). Libev will also impose a minimum interval which is
1494	usually overkill.	2482	currently around C<0.1>, but that's usually overkill.
1495		2483
1496	This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,	2484	This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,
1497	as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be	2485	as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be
1498	resource-intensive.	2486	resource-intensive.
1499		2487
1500	At the time of this writing, only the Linux inotify interface is	2488	At the time of this writing, the only OS-specific interface implemented
1501	implemented (implementing kqueue support is left as an exercise for the	2489	is the Linux inotify interface (implementing kqueue support is left as an
1502	reader). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should not change the	2490	exercise for the reader. Note, however, that the author sees no way of
1503	semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers, which means that libev sometimes needs	2491	implementing C<ev_stat> semantics with kqueue, except as a hint).
1504	to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify, but changes are
1505	usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there will be no
1506	polling.
1507		2492
1508	=head3 Inotify	2493	=head3 ABI Issues (Largefile Support)
1509		2494
		2495	Libev by default (unless the user overrides this) uses the default
		2496	compilation environment, which means that on systems with large file
		2497	support disabled by default, you get the 32 bit version of the stat
		2498	structure. When using the library from programs that change the ABI to
		2499	use 64 bit file offsets the programs will fail. In that case you have to
		2500	compile libev with the same flags to get binary compatibility. This is
		2501	obviously the case with any flags that change the ABI, but the problem is
		2502	most noticeably displayed with ev_stat and large file support.
		2503
		2504	The solution for this is to lobby your distribution maker to make large
		2505	file interfaces available by default (as e.g. FreeBSD does) and not
		2506	optional. Libev cannot simply switch on large file support because it has
		2507	to exchange stat structures with application programs compiled using the
		2508	default compilation environment.
		2509
		2510	=head3 Inotify and Kqueue
		2511
1510	When C<inotify (7)> support has been compiled into libev (generally only	2512	When C<inotify (7)> support has been compiled into libev and present at
1511	available on Linux) and present at runtime, it will be used to speed up	2513	runtime, it will be used to speed up change detection where possible. The
1512	change detection where possible. The inotify descriptor will be created lazily	2514	inotify descriptor will be created lazily when the first C<ev_stat>
1513	when the first C<ev_stat> watcher is being started.	2515	watcher is being started.
1514		2516
1515	Inotify presense does not change the semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers	2517	Inotify presence does not change the semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers
1516	except that changes might be detected earlier, and in some cases, to avoid	2518	except that changes might be detected earlier, and in some cases, to avoid
1517	making regular C<stat> calls. Even in the presense of inotify support	2519	making regular C<stat> calls. Even in the presence of inotify support
1518	there are many cases where libev has to resort to regular C<stat> polling.	2520	there are many cases where libev has to resort to regular C<stat> polling,
		2521	but as long as kernel 2.6.25 or newer is used (2.6.24 and older have too
		2522	many bugs), the path exists (i.e. stat succeeds), and the path resides on
		2523	a local filesystem (libev currently assumes only ext2/3, jfs, reiserfs and
		2524	xfs are fully working) libev usually gets away without polling.
1519		2525
1520	(There is no support for kqueue, as apparently it cannot be used to	2526	There is no support for kqueue, as apparently it cannot be used to
1521	implement this functionality, due to the requirement of having a file	2527	implement this functionality, due to the requirement of having a file
1522	descriptor open on the object at all times).	2528	descriptor open on the object at all times, and detecting renames, unlinks
		2529	etc. is difficult.
		2530
		2531	=head3 C<stat ()> is a synchronous operation
		2532
		2533	Libev doesn't normally do any kind of I/O itself, and so is not blocking
		2534	the process. The exception are C<ev_stat> watchers - those call C<stat
		2535	()>, which is a synchronous operation.
		2536
		2537	For local paths, this usually doesn't matter: unless the system is very
		2538	busy or the intervals between stat's are large, a stat call will be fast,
		2539	as the path data is usually in memory already (except when starting the
		2540	watcher).
		2541
		2542	For networked file systems, calling C<stat ()> can block an indefinite
		2543	time due to network issues, and even under good conditions, a stat call
		2544	often takes multiple milliseconds.
		2545
		2546	Therefore, it is best to avoid using C<ev_stat> watchers on networked
		2547	paths, although this is fully supported by libev.
1523		2548
1524	=head3 The special problem of stat time resolution	2549	=head3 The special problem of stat time resolution
1525		2550
1526	The C<stat ()> syscall only supports full-second resolution portably, and	2551	The C<stat ()> system call only supports full-second resolution portably,
1527	even on systems where the resolution is higher, many filesystems still	2552	and even on systems where the resolution is higher, most file systems
1528	only support whole seconds.	2553	still only support whole seconds.
1529		2554
1530	That means that, if the time is the only thing that changes, you might	2555	That means that, if the time is the only thing that changes, you can
1531	miss updates: on the first update, C<ev_stat> detects a change and calls	2556	easily miss updates: on the first update, C<ev_stat> detects a change and
1532	your callback, which does something. When there is another update within	2557	calls your callback, which does something. When there is another update
1533	the same second, C<ev_stat> will be unable to detect it.	2558	within the same second, C<ev_stat> will be unable to detect unless the
		2559	stat data does change in other ways (e.g. file size).
1534		2560
1535	The solution to this is to delay acting on a change for a second (or till	2561	The solution to this is to delay acting on a change for slightly more
1536	the next second boundary), using a roughly one-second delay C<ev_timer>	2562	than a second (or till slightly after the next full second boundary), using
1537	(C<ev_timer_set (w, 0., 1.01); ev_timer_again (loop, w)>). The C<.01>	2563	a roughly one-second-delay C<ev_timer> (e.g. C<ev_timer_set (w, 0., 1.02);
1538	is added to work around small timing inconsistencies of some operating	2564	ev_timer_again (loop, w)>).
1539	systems.	2565
		2566	The C<.02> offset is added to work around small timing inconsistencies
		2567	of some operating systems (where the second counter of the current time
		2568	might be be delayed. One such system is the Linux kernel, where a call to
		2569	C<gettimeofday> might return a timestamp with a full second later than
		2570	a subsequent C<time> call - if the equivalent of C<time ()> is used to
		2571	update file times then there will be a small window where the kernel uses
		2572	the previous second to update file times but libev might already execute
		2573	the timer callback).
1540		2574
1541	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	2575	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1542		2576
1543	=over 4	2577	=over 4
1544		2578
…		…
1550	C<path>. The C<interval> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to	2584	C<path>. The C<interval> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to
1551	be detected and should normally be specified as C<0> to let libev choose	2585	be detected and should normally be specified as C<0> to let libev choose
1552	a suitable value. The memory pointed to by C<path> must point to the same	2586	a suitable value. The memory pointed to by C<path> must point to the same
1553	path for as long as the watcher is active.	2587	path for as long as the watcher is active.
1554		2588
1555	The callback will be receive C<EV_STAT> when a change was detected,	2589	The callback will receive an C<EV_STAT> event when a change was detected,
1556	relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the	2590	relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the
1557	last change was detected).	2591	last change was detected).
1558		2592
1559	=item ev_stat_stat (ev_stat *)	2593	=item ev_stat_stat (loop, ev_stat *)
1560		2594
1561	Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the	2595	Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the
1562	watched path in your callback, you could call this fucntion to avoid	2596	watched path in your callback, you could call this function to avoid
1563	detecting this change (while introducing a race condition). Can also be	2597	detecting this change (while introducing a race condition if you are not
1564	useful simply to find out the new values.	2598	the only one changing the path). Can also be useful simply to find out the
		2599	new values.
1565		2600
1566	=item ev_statdata attr [read-only]	2601	=item ev_statdata attr [read-only]
1567		2602
1568	The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is of	2603	The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is
1569	C<ev_statdata>, this is usually the (or one of the) C<struct stat> types	2604	C<ev_statdata>, this is usually the (or one of the) C<struct stat> types
1570	suitable for your system. If the C<st_nlink> member is C<0>, then there	2605	suitable for your system, but you can only rely on the POSIX-standardised
		2606	members to be present. If the C<st_nlink> member is C<0>, then there was
1571	was some error while C<stat>ing the file.	2607	some error while C<stat>ing the file.
1572		2608
1573	=item ev_statdata prev [read-only]	2609	=item ev_statdata prev [read-only]
1574		2610
1575	The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever	2611	The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever
1576	C<prev> != C<attr>.	2612	C<prev> != C<attr>, or, more precisely, one or more of these members
		2613	differ: C<st_dev>, C<st_ino>, C<st_mode>, C<st_nlink>, C<st_uid>,
		2614	C<st_gid>, C<st_rdev>, C<st_size>, C<st_atime>, C<st_mtime>, C<st_ctime>.
1577		2615
1578	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-only]	2616	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-only]
1579		2617
1580	The specified interval.	2618	The specified interval.
1581		2619
1582	=item const char *path [read-only]	2620	=item const char *path [read-only]
1583		2621
1584	The filesystem path that is being watched.	2622	The file system path that is being watched.
1585		2623
1586	=back	2624	=back
1587		2625
1588	=head3 Examples	2626	=head3 Examples
1589		2627
1590	Example: Watch C</etc/passwd> for attribute changes.	2628	Example: Watch C</etc/passwd> for attribute changes.
1591		2629
1592	static void	2630	static void
1593	passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)	2631	passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)
1594	{	2632	{
1595	/* /etc/passwd changed in some way */	2633	/* /etc/passwd changed in some way */
1596	if (w->attr.st_nlink)	2634	if (w->attr.st_nlink)
1597	{	2635	{
1598	printf ("passwd current size %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_size);	2636	printf ("passwd current size %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_size);
1599	printf ("passwd current atime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);	2637	printf ("passwd current atime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1600	printf ("passwd current mtime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);	2638	printf ("passwd current mtime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1601	}	2639	}
1602	else	2640	else
1603	/* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */	2641	/* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */
1604	puts ("wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. "	2642	puts ("wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. "
1605	"if this is windows, they already arrived\n");	2643	"if this is windows, they already arrived\n");
1606	}	2644	}
1607		2645
1608	...	2646	...
1609	ev_stat passwd;	2647	ev_stat passwd;
1610		2648
1611	ev_stat_init (&passwd, passwd_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);	2649	ev_stat_init (&passwd, passwd_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);
1612	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);	2650	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
1613		2651
1614	Example: Like above, but additionally use a one-second delay so we do not	2652	Example: Like above, but additionally use a one-second delay so we do not
1615	miss updates (however, frequent updates will delay processing, too, so	2653	miss updates (however, frequent updates will delay processing, too, so
1616	one might do the work both on C<ev_stat> callback invocation I<and> on	2654	one might do the work both on C<ev_stat> callback invocation I<and> on
1617	C<ev_timer> callback invocation).	2655	C<ev_timer> callback invocation).
1618		2656
1619	static ev_stat passwd;	2657	static ev_stat passwd;
1620	static ev_timer timer;	2658	static ev_timer timer;
1621		2659
1622	static void	2660	static void
1623	timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	2661	timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1624	{	2662	{
1625	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ w);	2663	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ w);
1626		2664
1627	/* now it's one second after the most recent passwd change */	2665	/* now it's one second after the most recent passwd change */
1628	}	2666	}
1629		2667
1630	static void	2668	static void
1631	stat_cb (EV_P_ ev_stat *w, int revents)	2669	stat_cb (EV_P_ ev_stat *w, int revents)
1632	{	2670	{
1633	/* reset the one-second timer */	2671	/* reset the one-second timer */
1634	ev_timer_again (EV_A_ &timer);	2672	ev_timer_again (EV_A_ &timer);
1635	}	2673	}
1636		2674
1637	...	2675	...
1638	ev_stat_init (&passwd, stat_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);	2676	ev_stat_init (&passwd, stat_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);
1639	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);	2677	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
1640	ev_timer_init (&timer, timer_cb, 0., 1.01);	2678	ev_timer_init (&timer, timer_cb, 0., 1.02);
1641		2679
1642		2680
1643	=head2 C<ev_idle> - when you've got nothing better to do...	2681	=head2 C<ev_idle> - when you've got nothing better to do...
1644		2682
1645	Idle watchers trigger events when no other events of the same or higher	2683	Idle watchers trigger events when no other events of the same or higher
1646	priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not	2684	priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not count
1647	count).	2685	as receiving "events").
1648		2686
1649	That is, as long as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts	2687	That is, as long as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts
1650	(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be	2688	(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be
1651	triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers	2689	triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers
1652	are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop	2690	are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop
…		…
1663		2701
1664	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	2702	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1665		2703
1666	=over 4	2704	=over 4
1667		2705
1668	=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)	2706	=item ev_idle_init (ev_idle *, callback)
1669		2707
1670	Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any	2708	Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any
1671	kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,	2709	kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1672	believe me.	2710	believe me.
1673		2711
…		…
1676	=head3 Examples	2714	=head3 Examples
1677		2715
1678	Example: Dynamically allocate an C<ev_idle> watcher, start it, and in the	2716	Example: Dynamically allocate an C<ev_idle> watcher, start it, and in the
1679	callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.	2717	callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.
1680		2718
1681	static void	2719	static void
1682	idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)	2720	idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_idle *w, int revents)
1683	{	2721	{
1684	free (w);	2722	free (w);
1685	// now do something you wanted to do when the program has	2723	// now do something you wanted to do when the program has
1686	// no longer asnything immediate to do.	2724	// no longer anything immediate to do.
1687	}	2725	}
1688		2726
1689	struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle));	2727	ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (ev_idle));
1690	ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);	2728	ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);
1691	ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb);	2729	ev_idle_start (loop, idle_watcher);
1692		2730
1693		2731
1694	=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!	2732	=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!
1695		2733
1696	Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:	2734	Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in pairs:
1697	prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers	2735	prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers
1698	afterwards.	2736	afterwards.
1699		2737
1700	You I<must not> call C<ev_loop> or similar functions that enter	2738	You I<must not> call C<ev_run> or similar functions that enter
1701	the current event loop from either C<ev_prepare> or C<ev_check>	2739	the current event loop from either C<ev_prepare> or C<ev_check>
1702	watchers. Other loops than the current one are fine, however. The	2740	watchers. Other loops than the current one are fine, however. The
1703	rationale behind this is that you do not need to check for recursion in	2741	rationale behind this is that you do not need to check for recursion in
1704	those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be C<ev_prepare>, blocking,	2742	those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be C<ev_prepare>, blocking,
1705	C<ev_check> so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be	2743	C<ev_check> so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be
1706	called in pairs bracketing the blocking call.	2744	called in pairs bracketing the blocking call.
1707		2745
1708	Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and	2746	Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and
1709	their use is somewhat advanced. This could be used, for example, to track	2747	their use is somewhat advanced. They could be used, for example, to track
1710	variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a	2748	variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a
1711	coroutine library and lots more. They are also occasionally useful if	2749	coroutine library and lots more. They are also occasionally useful if
1712	you cache some data and want to flush it before blocking (for example,	2750	you cache some data and want to flush it before blocking (for example,
1713	in X programs you might want to do an C<XFlush ()> in an C<ev_prepare>	2751	in X programs you might want to do an C<XFlush ()> in an C<ev_prepare>
1714	watcher).	2752	watcher).
1715		2753
1716	This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need	2754	This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors
1717	to be watched by the other library, registering C<ev_io> watchers for	2755	need to be watched by the other library, registering C<ev_io> watchers
1718	them and starting an C<ev_timer> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries	2756	for them and starting an C<ev_timer> watcher for any timeouts (many
1719	provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for	2757	libraries provide exactly this functionality). Then, in the check watcher,
1720	any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers	2758	you check for any events that occurred (by checking the pending status
1721	and stopping them) and call back into the library. The I/O and timer	2759	of all watchers and stopping them) and call back into the library. The
1722	callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid nevertheless,	2760	I/O and timer callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid
1723	because you never know, you know?).	2761	nevertheless, because you never know, you know?).
1724		2762
1725	As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate	2763	As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate
1726	coroutines into libev programs, by yielding to other active coroutines	2764	coroutines into libev programs, by yielding to other active coroutines
1727	during each prepare and only letting the process block if no coroutines	2765	during each prepare and only letting the process block if no coroutines
1728	are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines	2766	are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines
…		…
1731	loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping	2769	loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
1732	low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).	2770	low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).
1733		2771
1734	It is recommended to give C<ev_check> watchers highest (C<EV_MAXPRI>)	2772	It is recommended to give C<ev_check> watchers highest (C<EV_MAXPRI>)
1735	priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers	2773	priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers
		2774	after the poll (this doesn't matter for C<ev_prepare> watchers).
		2775
1736	after the poll. Also, C<ev_check> watchers (and C<ev_prepare> watchers,	2776	Also, C<ev_check> watchers (and C<ev_prepare> watchers, too) should not
1737	too) should not activate ("feed") events into libev. While libev fully	2777	activate ("feed") events into libev. While libev fully supports this, they
1738	supports this, they will be called before other C<ev_check> watchers	2778	might get executed before other C<ev_check> watchers did their job. As
1739	did their job. As C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other	2779	C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other (non-libev) event
1740	(non-libev) event loops those other event loops might be in an unusable	2780	loops those other event loops might be in an unusable state until their
1741	state until their C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to	2781	C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to coexist peacefully with
1742	coexist peacefully with others).	2782	others).
1743		2783
1744	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	2784	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1745		2785
1746	=over 4	2786	=over 4
1747		2787
…		…
1749		2789
1750	=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)	2790	=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)
1751		2791
1752	Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no	2792	Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no
1753	parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set>	2793	parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set>
1754	macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.	2794	macros, but using them is utterly, utterly, utterly and completely
		2795	pointless.
1755		2796
1756	=back	2797	=back
1757		2798
1758	=head3 Examples	2799	=head3 Examples
1759		2800
1760	There are a number of principal ways to embed other event loops or modules	2801	There are a number of principal ways to embed other event loops or modules
1761	into libev. Here are some ideas on how to include libadns into libev	2802	into libev. Here are some ideas on how to include libadns into libev
1762	(there is a Perl module named C<EV::ADNS> that does this, which you could	2803	(there is a Perl module named C<EV::ADNS> that does this, which you could
1763	use for an actually working example. Another Perl module named C<EV::Glib>	2804	use as a working example. Another Perl module named C<EV::Glib> embeds a
1764	embeds a Glib main context into libev, and finally, C<Glib::EV> embeds EV	2805	Glib main context into libev, and finally, C<Glib::EV> embeds EV into the
1765	into the Glib event loop).	2806	Glib event loop).
1766		2807
1767	Method 1: Add IO watchers and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler,	2808	Method 1: Add IO watchers and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler,
1768	and in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows	2809	and in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows
1769	is pseudo-code only of course. This requires you to either use a low	2810	is pseudo-code only of course. This requires you to either use a low
1770	priority for the check watcher or use C<ev_clear_pending> explicitly, as	2811	priority for the check watcher or use C<ev_clear_pending> explicitly, as
1771	the callbacks for the IO/timeout watchers might not have been called yet.	2812	the callbacks for the IO/timeout watchers might not have been called yet.
1772		2813
1773	static ev_io iow [nfd];	2814	static ev_io iow [nfd];
1774	static ev_timer tw;	2815	static ev_timer tw;
1775		2816
1776	static void	2817	static void
1777	io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)	2818	io_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
1778	{	2819	{
1779	}	2820	}
1780		2821
1781	// create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking	2822	// create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
1782	static void	2823	static void
1783	adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)	2824	adns_prepare_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
1784	{	2825	{
1785	int timeout = 3600000;	2826	int timeout = 3600000;
1786	struct pollfd fds [nfd];	2827	struct pollfd fds [nfd];
1787	// actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.	2828	// actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
1788	adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));	2829	adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
1789		2830
1790	/* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */	2831	/* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
1791	ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);	2832	ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3, 0.);
1792	ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);	2833	ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);
1793		2834
1794	// create one ev_io per pollfd	2835	// create one ev_io per pollfd
1795	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)	2836	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1796	{	2837	{
1797	ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,	2838	ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,
1798	((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)	2839	((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)
1799	| (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));	2840	| (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));
1800		2841
1801	fds [i].revents = 0;	2842	fds [i].revents = 0;
1802	ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);	2843	ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);
1803	}	2844	}
1804	}	2845	}
1805		2846
1806	// stop all watchers after blocking	2847	// stop all watchers after blocking
1807	static void	2848	static void
1808	adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)	2849	adns_check_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)
1809	{	2850	{
1810	ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);	2851	ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);
1811		2852
1812	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)	2853	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1813	{	2854	{
1814	// set the relevant poll flags	2855	// set the relevant poll flags
1815	// could also call adns_processreadable etc. here	2856	// could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
1816	struct pollfd *fd = fds + i;	2857	struct pollfd *fd = fds + i;
1817	int revents = ev_clear_pending (iow + i);	2858	int revents = ev_clear_pending (iow + i);
1818	if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;	2859	if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
1819	if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;	2860	if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
1820		2861
1821	// now stop the watcher	2862	// now stop the watcher
1822	ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);	2863	ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
1823	}	2864	}
1824		2865
1825	adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));	2866	adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));
1826	}	2867	}
1827		2868
1828	Method 2: This would be just like method 1, but you run C<adns_afterpoll>	2869	Method 2: This would be just like method 1, but you run C<adns_afterpoll>
1829	in the prepare watcher and would dispose of the check watcher.	2870	in the prepare watcher and would dispose of the check watcher.
1830		2871
1831	Method 3: If the module to be embedded supports explicit event	2872	Method 3: If the module to be embedded supports explicit event
1832	notification (adns does), you can also make use of the actual watcher	2873	notification (libadns does), you can also make use of the actual watcher
1833	callbacks, and only destroy/create the watchers in the prepare watcher.	2874	callbacks, and only destroy/create the watchers in the prepare watcher.
1834		2875
1835	static void	2876	static void
1836	timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	2877	timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1837	{	2878	{
1838	adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;	2879	adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
1839	update_now (EV_A);	2880	update_now (EV_A);
1840		2881
1841	adns_processtimeouts (ads, &tv_now);	2882	adns_processtimeouts (ads, &tv_now);
1842	}	2883	}
1843		2884
1844	static void	2885	static void
1845	io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)	2886	io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
1846	{	2887	{
1847	adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;	2888	adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
1848	update_now (EV_A);	2889	update_now (EV_A);
1849		2890
1850	if (revents & EV_READ ) adns_processreadable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);	2891	if (revents & EV_READ ) adns_processreadable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
1851	if (revents & EV_WRITE) adns_processwriteable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);	2892	if (revents & EV_WRITE) adns_processwriteable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
1852	}	2893	}
1853		2894
1854	// do not ever call adns_afterpoll	2895	// do not ever call adns_afterpoll
1855		2896
1856	Method 4: Do not use a prepare or check watcher because the module you	2897	Method 4: Do not use a prepare or check watcher because the module you
1857	want to embed is too inflexible to support it. Instead, youc na override	2898	want to embed is not flexible enough to support it. Instead, you can
1858	their poll function. The drawback with this solution is that the main	2899	override their poll function. The drawback with this solution is that the
1859	loop is now no longer controllable by EV. The C<Glib::EV> module does	2900	main loop is now no longer controllable by EV. The C<Glib::EV> module uses
1860	this.	2901	this approach, effectively embedding EV as a client into the horrible
		2902	libglib event loop.
1861		2903
1862	static gint	2904	static gint
1863	event_poll_func (GPollFD *fds, guint nfds, gint timeout)	2905	event_poll_func (GPollFD *fds, guint nfds, gint timeout)
1864	{	2906	{
1865	int got_events = 0;	2907	int got_events = 0;
1866		2908
1867	for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)	2909	for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
1868	// create/start io watcher that sets the relevant bits in fds[n] and increment got_events	2910	// create/start io watcher that sets the relevant bits in fds[n] and increment got_events
1869		2911
1870	if (timeout >= 0)	2912	if (timeout >= 0)
1871	// create/start timer	2913	// create/start timer
1872		2914
1873	// poll	2915	// poll
1874	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);	2916	ev_run (EV_A_ 0);
1875		2917
1876	// stop timer again	2918	// stop timer again
1877	if (timeout >= 0)	2919	if (timeout >= 0)
1878	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &to);	2920	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &to);
1879		2921
1880	// stop io watchers again - their callbacks should have set	2922	// stop io watchers again - their callbacks should have set
1881	for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)	2923	for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
1882	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ iow [n]);	2924	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ iow [n]);
1883		2925
1884	return got_events;	2926	return got_events;
1885	}	2927	}
1886		2928
1887		2929
1888	=head2 C<ev_embed> - when one backend isn't enough...	2930	=head2 C<ev_embed> - when one backend isn't enough...
1889		2931
1890	This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop	2932	This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop
…		…
1896	prioritise I/O.	2938	prioritise I/O.
1897		2939
1898	As an example for a bug workaround, the kqueue backend might only support	2940	As an example for a bug workaround, the kqueue backend might only support
1899	sockets on some platform, so it is unusable as generic backend, but you	2941	sockets on some platform, so it is unusable as generic backend, but you
1900	still want to make use of it because you have many sockets and it scales	2942	still want to make use of it because you have many sockets and it scales
1901	so nicely. In this case, you would create a kqueue-based loop and embed it	2943	so nicely. In this case, you would create a kqueue-based loop and embed
1902	into your default loop (which might use e.g. poll). Overall operation will	2944	it into your default loop (which might use e.g. poll). Overall operation
1903	be a bit slower because first libev has to poll and then call kevent, but	2945	will be a bit slower because first libev has to call C<poll> and then
1904	at least you can use both at what they are best.	2946	C<kevent>, but at least you can use both mechanisms for what they are
		2947	best: C<kqueue> for scalable sockets and C<poll> if you want it to work :)
1905		2948
1906	As for prioritising I/O: rarely you have the case where some fds have	2949	As for prioritising I/O: under rare circumstances you have the case where
1907	to be watched and handled very quickly (with low latency), and even	2950	some fds have to be watched and handled very quickly (with low latency),
1908	priorities and idle watchers might have too much overhead. In this case	2951	and even priorities and idle watchers might have too much overhead. In
1909	you would put all the high priority stuff in one loop and all the rest in	2952	this case you would put all the high priority stuff in one loop and all
1910	a second one, and embed the second one in the first.	2953	the rest in a second one, and embed the second one in the first.
1911		2954
1912	As long as the watcher is active, the callback will be invoked every time	2955	As long as the watcher is active, the callback will be invoked every
1913	there might be events pending in the embedded loop. The callback must then	2956	time there might be events pending in the embedded loop. The callback
1914	call C<ev_embed_sweep (mainloop, watcher)> to make a single sweep and invoke	2957	must then call C<ev_embed_sweep (mainloop, watcher)> to make a single
1915	their callbacks (you could also start an idle watcher to give the embedded	2958	sweep and invoke their callbacks (the callback doesn't need to invoke the
1916	loop strictly lower priority for example). You can also set the callback	2959	C<ev_embed_sweep> function directly, it could also start an idle watcher
1917	to C<0>, in which case the embed watcher will automatically execute the	2960	to give the embedded loop strictly lower priority for example).
1918	embedded loop sweep.
1919		2961
1920	As long as the watcher is started it will automatically handle events. The	2962	You can also set the callback to C<0>, in which case the embed watcher
1921	callback will be invoked whenever some events have been handled. You can	2963	will automatically execute the embedded loop sweep whenever necessary.
1922	set the callback to C<0> to avoid having to specify one if you are not
1923	interested in that.
1924		2964
1925	Also, there have not currently been made special provisions for forking:	2965	Fork detection will be handled transparently while the C<ev_embed> watcher
1926	when you fork, you not only have to call C<ev_loop_fork> on both loops,	2966	is active, i.e., the embedded loop will automatically be forked when the
1927	but you will also have to stop and restart any C<ev_embed> watchers	2967	embedding loop forks. In other cases, the user is responsible for calling
1928	yourself.	2968	C<ev_loop_fork> on the embedded loop.
1929		2969
1930	Unfortunately, not all backends are embeddable, only the ones returned by	2970	Unfortunately, not all backends are embeddable: only the ones returned by
1931	C<ev_embeddable_backends> are, which, unfortunately, does not include any	2971	C<ev_embeddable_backends> are, which, unfortunately, does not include any
1932	portable one.	2972	portable one.
1933		2973
1934	So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared	2974	So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared
1935	that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around	2975	that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around
1936	this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to	2976	this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to
1937	create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything.	2977	create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything.
1938		2978
		2979	=head3 C<ev_embed> and fork
		2980
		2981	While the C<ev_embed> watcher is running, forks in the embedding loop will
		2982	automatically be applied to the embedded loop as well, so no special
		2983	fork handling is required in that case. When the watcher is not running,
		2984	however, it is still the task of the libev user to call C<ev_loop_fork ()>
		2985	as applicable.
		2986
1939	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	2987	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1940		2988
1941	=over 4	2989	=over 4
1942		2990
1943	=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)	2991	=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
…		…
1946		2994
1947	Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be	2995	Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be
1948	embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be	2996	embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be
1949	invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback	2997	invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback
1950	to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,	2998	to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,
1951	if you do not want thta, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).	2999	if you do not want that, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).
1952		3000
1953	=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)	3001	=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)
1954		3002
1955	Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works	3003	Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works
1956	similarly to C<ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)>, but in the most	3004	similarly to C<ev_run (embedded_loop, EVRUN_NOWAIT)>, but in the most
1957	apropriate way for embedded loops.	3005	appropriate way for embedded loops.
1958		3006
1959	=item struct ev_loop *other [read-only]	3007	=item struct ev_loop *other [read-only]
1960		3008
1961	The embedded event loop.	3009	The embedded event loop.
1962		3010
…		…
1964		3012
1965	=head3 Examples	3013	=head3 Examples
1966		3014
1967	Example: Try to get an embeddable event loop and embed it into the default	3015	Example: Try to get an embeddable event loop and embed it into the default
1968	event loop. If that is not possible, use the default loop. The default	3016	event loop. If that is not possible, use the default loop. The default
1969	loop is stored in C<loop_hi>, while the mebeddable loop is stored in	3017	loop is stored in C<loop_hi>, while the embeddable loop is stored in
1970	C<loop_lo> (which is C<loop_hi> in the acse no embeddable loop can be	3018	C<loop_lo> (which is C<loop_hi> in the case no embeddable loop can be
1971	used).	3019	used).
1972		3020
1973	struct ev_loop *loop_hi = ev_default_init (0);	3021	struct ev_loop *loop_hi = ev_default_init (0);
1974	struct ev_loop *loop_lo = 0;	3022	struct ev_loop *loop_lo = 0;
1975	struct ev_embed embed;	3023	ev_embed embed;
1976		3024
1977	// see if there is a chance of getting one that works	3025	// see if there is a chance of getting one that works
1978	// (remember that a flags value of 0 means autodetection)	3026	// (remember that a flags value of 0 means autodetection)
1979	loop_lo = ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ()	3027	loop_lo = ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ()
1980	? ev_loop_new (ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ())	3028	? ev_loop_new (ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ())
1981	: 0;	3029	: 0;
1982		3030
1983	// if we got one, then embed it, otherwise default to loop_hi	3031	// if we got one, then embed it, otherwise default to loop_hi
1984	if (loop_lo)	3032	if (loop_lo)
1985	{	3033	{
1986	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_lo);	3034	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_lo);
1987	ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);	3035	ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);
1988	}	3036	}
1989	else	3037	else
1990	loop_lo = loop_hi;	3038	loop_lo = loop_hi;
1991		3039
1992	Example: Check if kqueue is available but not recommended and create	3040	Example: Check if kqueue is available but not recommended and create
1993	a kqueue backend for use with sockets (which usually work with any	3041	a kqueue backend for use with sockets (which usually work with any
1994	kqueue implementation). Store the kqueue/socket-only event loop in	3042	kqueue implementation). Store the kqueue/socket-only event loop in
1995	C<loop_socket>. (One might optionally use C<EVFLAG_NOENV>, too).	3043	C<loop_socket>. (One might optionally use C<EVFLAG_NOENV>, too).
1996		3044
1997	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);	3045	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
1998	struct ev_loop *loop_socket = 0;	3046	struct ev_loop *loop_socket = 0;
1999	struct ev_embed embed;	3047	ev_embed embed;
2000		3048
2001	if (ev_supported_backends () & ~ev_recommended_backends () & EVBACKEND_KQUEUE)	3049	if (ev_supported_backends () & ~ev_recommended_backends () & EVBACKEND_KQUEUE)
2002	if ((loop_socket = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_KQUEUE))	3050	if ((loop_socket = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_KQUEUE))
2003	{	3051	{
2004	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_socket);	3052	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_socket);
2005	ev_embed_start (loop, &embed);	3053	ev_embed_start (loop, &embed);
2006	}	3054	}
2007		3055
2008	if (!loop_socket)	3056	if (!loop_socket)
2009	loop_socket = loop;	3057	loop_socket = loop;
2010		3058
2011	// now use loop_socket for all sockets, and loop for everything else	3059	// now use loop_socket for all sockets, and loop for everything else
2012		3060
2013		3061
2014	=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork	3062	=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork
2015		3063
2016	Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because	3064	Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because
…		…
2019	event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,	3067	event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,
2020	and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling	3068	and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling
2021	C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork	3069	C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork
2022	handlers will be invoked, too, of course.	3070	handlers will be invoked, too, of course.
2023		3071
		3072	=head3 The special problem of life after fork - how is it possible?
		3073
		3074	Most uses of C<fork()> consist of forking, then some simple calls to set
		3075	up/change the process environment, followed by a call to C<exec()>. This
		3076	sequence should be handled by libev without any problems.
		3077
		3078	This changes when the application actually wants to do event handling
		3079	in the child, or both parent in child, in effect "continuing" after the
		3080	fork.
		3081
		3082	The default mode of operation (for libev, with application help to detect
		3083	forks) is to duplicate all the state in the child, as would be expected
		3084	when I<either> the parent I<or> the child process continues.
		3085
		3086	When both processes want to continue using libev, then this is usually the
		3087	wrong result. In that case, usually one process (typically the parent) is
		3088	supposed to continue with all watchers in place as before, while the other
		3089	process typically wants to start fresh, i.e. without any active watchers.
		3090
		3091	The cleanest and most efficient way to achieve that with libev is to
		3092	simply create a new event loop, which of course will be "empty", and
		3093	use that for new watchers. This has the advantage of not touching more
		3094	memory than necessary, and thus avoiding the copy-on-write, and the
		3095	disadvantage of having to use multiple event loops (which do not support
		3096	signal watchers).
		3097
		3098	When this is not possible, or you want to use the default loop for
		3099	other reasons, then in the process that wants to start "fresh", call
		3100	C<ev_loop_destroy (EV_DEFAULT)> followed by C<ev_default_loop (...)>.
		3101	Destroying the default loop will "orphan" (not stop) all registered
		3102	watchers, so you have to be careful not to execute code that modifies
		3103	those watchers. Note also that in that case, you have to re-register any
		3104	signal watchers.
		3105
2024	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	3106	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2025		3107
2026	=over 4	3108	=over 4
2027		3109
2028	=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)	3110	=item ev_fork_init (ev_fork *, callback)
2029		3111
2030	Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any	3112	Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
2031	kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,	3113	kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
2032	believe me.	3114	really.
2033		3115
2034	=back	3116	=back
2035		3117
2036		3118
		3119	=head2 C<ev_cleanup> - even the best things end
		3120
		3121	Cleanup watchers are called just before the event loop is being destroyed
		3122	by a call to C<ev_loop_destroy>.
		3123
		3124	While there is no guarantee that the event loop gets destroyed, cleanup
		3125	watchers provide a convenient method to install cleanup hooks for your
		3126	program, worker threads and so on - you just to make sure to destroy the
		3127	loop when you want them to be invoked.
		3128
		3129	Cleanup watchers are invoked in the same way as any other watcher. Unlike
		3130	all other watchers, they do not keep a reference to the event loop (which
		3131	makes a lot of sense if you think about it). Like all other watchers, you
		3132	can call libev functions in the callback, except C<ev_cleanup_start>.
		3133
		3134	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		3135
		3136	=over 4
		3137
		3138	=item ev_cleanup_init (ev_cleanup *, callback)
		3139
		3140	Initialises and configures the cleanup watcher - it has no parameters of
		3141	any kind. There is a C<ev_cleanup_set> macro, but using it is utterly
		3142	pointless, I assure you.
		3143
		3144	=back
		3145
		3146	Example: Register an atexit handler to destroy the default loop, so any
		3147	cleanup functions are called.
		3148
		3149	static void
		3150	program_exits (void)
		3151	{
		3152	ev_loop_destroy (EV_DEFAULT_UC);
		3153	}
		3154
		3155	...
		3156	atexit (program_exits);
		3157
		3158
		3159	=head2 C<ev_async> - how to wake up an event loop
		3160
		3161	In general, you cannot use an C<ev_run> from multiple threads or other
		3162	asynchronous sources such as signal handlers (as opposed to multiple event
		3163	loops - those are of course safe to use in different threads).
		3164
		3165	Sometimes, however, you need to wake up an event loop you do not control,
		3166	for example because it belongs to another thread. This is what C<ev_async>
		3167	watchers do: as long as the C<ev_async> watcher is active, you can signal
		3168	it by calling C<ev_async_send>, which is thread- and signal safe.
		3169
		3170	This functionality is very similar to C<ev_signal> watchers, as signals,
		3171	too, are asynchronous in nature, and signals, too, will be compressed
		3172	(i.e. the number of callback invocations may be less than the number of
		3173	C<ev_async_sent> calls).
		3174
		3175	Unlike C<ev_signal> watchers, C<ev_async> works with any event loop, not
		3176	just the default loop.
		3177
		3178	=head3 Queueing
		3179
		3180	C<ev_async> does not support queueing of data in any way. The reason
		3181	is that the author does not know of a simple (or any) algorithm for a
		3182	multiple-writer-single-reader queue that works in all cases and doesn't
		3183	need elaborate support such as pthreads or unportable memory access
		3184	semantics.
		3185
		3186	That means that if you want to queue data, you have to provide your own
		3187	queue. But at least I can tell you how to implement locking around your
		3188	queue:
		3189
		3190	=over 4
		3191
		3192	=item queueing from a signal handler context
		3193
		3194	To implement race-free queueing, you simply add to the queue in the signal
		3195	handler but you block the signal handler in the watcher callback. Here is
		3196	an example that does that for some fictitious SIGUSR1 handler:
		3197
		3198	static ev_async mysig;
		3199
		3200	static void
		3201	sigusr1_handler (void)
		3202	{
		3203	sometype data;
		3204
		3205	// no locking etc.
		3206	queue_put (data);
		3207	ev_async_send (EV_DEFAULT_ &mysig);
		3208	}
		3209
		3210	static void
		3211	mysig_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
		3212	{
		3213	sometype data;
		3214	sigset_t block, prev;
		3215
		3216	sigemptyset (&block);
		3217	sigaddset (&block, SIGUSR1);
		3218	sigprocmask (SIG_BLOCK, &block, &prev);
		3219
		3220	while (queue_get (&data))
		3221	process (data);
		3222
		3223	if (sigismember (&prev, SIGUSR1)
		3224	sigprocmask (SIG_UNBLOCK, &block, 0);
		3225	}
		3226
		3227	(Note: pthreads in theory requires you to use C<pthread_setmask>
		3228	instead of C<sigprocmask> when you use threads, but libev doesn't do it
		3229	either...).
		3230
		3231	=item queueing from a thread context
		3232
		3233	The strategy for threads is different, as you cannot (easily) block
		3234	threads but you can easily preempt them, so to queue safely you need to
		3235	employ a traditional mutex lock, such as in this pthread example:
		3236
		3237	static ev_async mysig;
		3238	static pthread_mutex_t mymutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
		3239
		3240	static void
		3241	otherthread (void)
		3242	{
		3243	// only need to lock the actual queueing operation
		3244	pthread_mutex_lock (&mymutex);
		3245	queue_put (data);
		3246	pthread_mutex_unlock (&mymutex);
		3247
		3248	ev_async_send (EV_DEFAULT_ &mysig);
		3249	}
		3250
		3251	static void
		3252	mysig_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
		3253	{
		3254	pthread_mutex_lock (&mymutex);
		3255
		3256	while (queue_get (&data))
		3257	process (data);
		3258
		3259	pthread_mutex_unlock (&mymutex);
		3260	}
		3261
		3262	=back
		3263
		3264
		3265	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		3266
		3267	=over 4
		3268
		3269	=item ev_async_init (ev_async *, callback)
		3270
		3271	Initialises and configures the async watcher - it has no parameters of any
		3272	kind. There is a C<ev_async_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
		3273	trust me.
		3274
		3275	=item ev_async_send (loop, ev_async *)
		3276
		3277	Sends/signals/activates the given C<ev_async> watcher, that is, feeds
		3278	an C<EV_ASYNC> event on the watcher into the event loop. Unlike
		3279	C<ev_feed_event>, this call is safe to do from other threads, signal or
		3280	similar contexts (see the discussion of C<EV_ATOMIC_T> in the embedding
		3281	section below on what exactly this means).
		3282
		3283	Note that, as with other watchers in libev, multiple events might get
		3284	compressed into a single callback invocation (another way to look at this
		3285	is that C<ev_async> watchers are level-triggered, set on C<ev_async_send>,
		3286	reset when the event loop detects that).
		3287
		3288	This call incurs the overhead of a system call only once per event loop
		3289	iteration, so while the overhead might be noticeable, it doesn't apply to
		3290	repeated calls to C<ev_async_send> for the same event loop.
		3291
		3292	=item bool = ev_async_pending (ev_async *)
		3293
		3294	Returns a non-zero value when C<ev_async_send> has been called on the
		3295	watcher but the event has not yet been processed (or even noted) by the
		3296	event loop.
		3297
		3298	C<ev_async_send> sets a flag in the watcher and wakes up the loop. When
		3299	the loop iterates next and checks for the watcher to have become active,
		3300	it will reset the flag again. C<ev_async_pending> can be used to very
		3301	quickly check whether invoking the loop might be a good idea.
		3302
		3303	Not that this does I<not> check whether the watcher itself is pending,
		3304	only whether it has been requested to make this watcher pending: there
		3305	is a time window between the event loop checking and resetting the async
		3306	notification, and the callback being invoked.
		3307
		3308	=back
		3309
		3310
2037	=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS	3311	=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS
2038		3312
2039	There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.	3313	There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.
2040		3314
2041	=over 4	3315	=over 4
2042		3316
2043	=item ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)	3317	=item ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)
2044		3318
2045	This function combines a simple timer and an I/O watcher, calls your	3319	This function combines a simple timer and an I/O watcher, calls your
2046	callback on whichever event happens first and automatically stop both	3320	callback on whichever event happens first and automatically stops both
2047	watchers. This is useful if you want to wait for a single event on an fd	3321	watchers. This is useful if you want to wait for a single event on an fd
2048	or timeout without having to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or	3322	or timeout without having to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or
2049	more watchers yourself.	3323	more watchers yourself.
2050		3324
2051	If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events	3325	If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and the
2052	is being ignored. Otherwise, an C<ev_io> watcher for the given C<fd> and	3326	C<events> argument is being ignored. Otherwise, an C<ev_io> watcher for
2053	C<events> set will be craeted and started.	3327	the given C<fd> and C<events> set will be created and started.
2054		3328
2055	If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be	3329	If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be
2056	started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and	3330	started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and
2057	repeat = 0) will be started. While C<0> is a valid timeout, it is of	3331	repeat = 0) will be started. C<0> is a valid timeout.
2058	dubious value.
2059		3332
2060	The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and gets	3333	The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and is
2061	passed an C<revents> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of	3334	passed an C<revents> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of
2062	C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMEOUT>) and the C<arg>	3335	C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMER>) and the C<arg>
2063	value passed to C<ev_once>:	3336	value passed to C<ev_once>. Note that it is possible to receive I<both>
		3337	a timeout and an io event at the same time - you probably should give io
		3338	events precedence.
2064		3339
		3340	Example: wait up to ten seconds for data to appear on STDIN_FILENO.
		3341
2065	static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)	3342	static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)
2066	{	3343	{
2067	if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT)
2068	/* doh, nothing entered */;
2069	else if (revents & EV_READ)	3344	if (revents & EV_READ)
2070	/* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;	3345	/* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;
		3346	else if (revents & EV_TIMER)
		3347	/* doh, nothing entered */;
2071	}	3348	}
2072		3349
2073	ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);	3350	ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);
2074		3351
2075	=item ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)
2076
2077	Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
2078	had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
2079	initialised but not necessarily started event watcher).
2080
2081	=item ev_feed_fd_event (ev_loop *, int fd, int revents)	3352	=item ev_feed_fd_event (loop, int fd, int revents)
2082		3353
2083	Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected	3354	Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
2084	the given events it.	3355	the given events it.
2085		3356
2086	=item ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)	3357	=item ev_feed_signal_event (loop, int signum)
2087		3358
2088	Feed an event as if the given signal occured (C<loop> must be the default	3359	Feed an event as if the given signal occurred (C<loop> must be the default
2089	loop!).	3360	loop!).
2090		3361
2091	=back	3362	=back
2092		3363
2093		3364
…		…
2109		3380
2110	=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities	3381	=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities
2111	will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there	3382	will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there
2112	is an ev_pri field.	3383	is an ev_pri field.
2113		3384
		3385	=item * In libevent, the last base created gets the signals, in libev, the
		3386	first base created (== the default loop) gets the signals.
		3387
2114	=item * Other members are not supported.	3388	=item * Other members are not supported.
2115		3389
2116	=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need	3390	=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
2117	to use the libev header file and library.	3391	to use the libev header file and library.
2118		3392
2119	=back	3393	=back
2120		3394
2121	=head1 C++ SUPPORT	3395	=head1 C++ SUPPORT
2122		3396
2123	Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow	3397	Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow
2124	you to use some convinience methods to start/stop watchers and also change	3398	you to use some convenience methods to start/stop watchers and also change
2125	the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.	3399	the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.
2126		3400
2127	To use it,	3401	To use it,
2128		3402
2129	#include <ev++.h>	3403	#include <ev++.h>
2130		3404
2131	This automatically includes F<ev.h> and puts all of its definitions (many	3405	This automatically includes F<ev.h> and puts all of its definitions (many
2132	of them macros) into the global namespace. All C++ specific things are	3406	of them macros) into the global namespace. All C++ specific things are
2133	put into the C<ev> namespace. It should support all the same embedding	3407	put into the C<ev> namespace. It should support all the same embedding
2134	options as F<ev.h>, most notably C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>.	3408	options as F<ev.h>, most notably C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>.
…		…
2168		3442
2169	=over 4	3443	=over 4
2170		3444
2171	=item ev::TYPE::TYPE ()	3445	=item ev::TYPE::TYPE ()
2172		3446
2173	=item ev::TYPE::TYPE (struct ev_loop *)	3447	=item ev::TYPE::TYPE (loop)
2174		3448
2175	=item ev::TYPE::~TYPE	3449	=item ev::TYPE::~TYPE
2176		3450
2177	The constructor (optionally) takes an event loop to associate the watcher	3451	The constructor (optionally) takes an event loop to associate the watcher
2178	with. If it is omitted, it will use C<EV_DEFAULT>.	3452	with. If it is omitted, it will use C<EV_DEFAULT>.
…		…
2201	your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the	3475	your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the
2202	thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.	3476	thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.
2203		3477
2204	Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation	3478	Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation
2205		3479
2206	struct myclass	3480	struct myclass
2207	{	3481	{
2208	void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }	3482	void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
2209	}	3483	}
2210		3484
2211	myclass obj;	3485	myclass obj;
2212	ev::io iow;	3486	ev::io iow;
2213	iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);	3487	iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);
		3488
		3489	=item w->set (object *)
		3490
		3491	This is a variation of a method callback - leaving out the method to call
		3492	will default the method to C<operator ()>, which makes it possible to use
		3493	functor objects without having to manually specify the C<operator ()> all
		3494	the time. Incidentally, you can then also leave out the template argument
		3495	list.
		3496
		3497	The C<operator ()> method prototype must be C<void operator ()(watcher &w,
		3498	int revents)>.
		3499
		3500	See the method-C<set> above for more details.
		3501
		3502	Example: use a functor object as callback.
		3503
		3504	struct myfunctor
		3505	{
		3506	void operator() (ev::io &w, int revents)
		3507	{
		3508	...
		3509	}
		3510	}
		3511
		3512	myfunctor f;
		3513
		3514	ev::io w;
		3515	w.set (&f);
2214		3516
2215	=item w->set<function> (void *data = 0)	3517	=item w->set<function> (void *data = 0)
2216		3518
2217	Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as	3519	Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as
2218	callback. The optional C<data> argument will be stored in the watcher's	3520	callback. The optional C<data> argument will be stored in the watcher's
…		…
2220		3522
2221	The prototype of the C<function> must be C<void (*)(ev::TYPE &w, int)>.	3523	The prototype of the C<function> must be C<void (*)(ev::TYPE &w, int)>.
2222		3524
2223	See the method-C<set> above for more details.	3525	See the method-C<set> above for more details.
2224		3526
2225	Example:	3527	Example: Use a plain function as callback.
2226		3528
2227	static void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }	3529	static void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
2228	iow.set <io_cb> ();	3530	iow.set <io_cb> ();
2229		3531
2230	=item w->set (struct ev_loop *)	3532	=item w->set (loop)
2231		3533
2232	Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only	3534	Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only
2233	do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).	3535	do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).
2234		3536
2235	=item w->set ([args])	3537	=item w->set ([arguments])
2236		3538
2237	Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set>, with the same args. Must be	3539	Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set>, with the same arguments. Either this
2238	called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets	3540	method or a suitable start method must be called at least once. Unlike the
2239	automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this	3541	C counterpart, an active watcher gets automatically stopped and restarted
2240	method.	3542	when reconfiguring it with this method.
2241		3543
2242	=item w->start ()	3544	=item w->start ()
2243		3545
2244	Starts the watcher. Note that there is no C<loop> argument, as the	3546	Starts the watcher. Note that there is no C<loop> argument, as the
2245	constructor already stores the event loop.	3547	constructor already stores the event loop.
2246		3548
		3549	=item w->start ([arguments])
		3550
		3551	Instead of calling C<set> and C<start> methods separately, it is often
		3552	convenient to wrap them in one call. Uses the same type of arguments as
		3553	the configure C<set> method of the watcher.
		3554
2247	=item w->stop ()	3555	=item w->stop ()
2248		3556
2249	Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.	3557	Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.
2250		3558
2251	=item w->again () (C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only)	3559	=item w->again () (C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only)
…		…
2263		3571
2264	=back	3572	=back
2265		3573
2266	=back	3574	=back
2267		3575
2268	Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in	3576	Example: Define a class with two I/O and idle watchers, start the I/O
2269	the constructor.	3577	watchers in the constructor.
2270		3578
2271	class myclass	3579	class myclass
2272	{	3580	{
2273	ev_io io; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);	3581	ev::io io ; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);
		3582	ev::io2 io2 ; void io2_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);
2274	ev_idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);	3583	ev::idle idle; void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);
2275		3584
2276	myclass ();	3585	myclass (int fd)
2277	}	3586	{
2278
2279	myclass::myclass (int fd)
2280	{
2281	io .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb > (this);	3587	io .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb > (this);
		3588	io2 .set <myclass, &myclass::io2_cb > (this);
2282	idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);	3589	idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);
2283		3590
2284	io.start (fd, ev::READ);	3591	io.set (fd, ev::WRITE); // configure the watcher
		3592	io.start (); // start it whenever convenient
		3593
		3594	io2.start (fd, ev::READ); // set + start in one call
		3595	}
2285	}	3596	};
		3597
		3598
		3599	=head1 OTHER LANGUAGE BINDINGS
		3600
		3601	Libev does not offer other language bindings itself, but bindings for a
		3602	number of languages exist in the form of third-party packages. If you know
		3603	any interesting language binding in addition to the ones listed here, drop
		3604	me a note.
		3605
		3606	=over 4
		3607
		3608	=item Perl
		3609
		3610	The EV module implements the full libev API and is actually used to test
		3611	libev. EV is developed together with libev. Apart from the EV core module,
		3612	there are additional modules that implement libev-compatible interfaces
		3613	to C<libadns> (C<EV::ADNS>, but C<AnyEvent::DNS> is preferred nowadays),
		3614	C<Net::SNMP> (C<Net::SNMP::EV>) and the C<libglib> event core (C<Glib::EV>
		3615	and C<EV::Glib>).
		3616
		3617	It can be found and installed via CPAN, its homepage is at
		3618	L<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV>.
		3619
		3620	=item Python
		3621
		3622	Python bindings can be found at L<http://code.google.com/p/pyev/>. It
		3623	seems to be quite complete and well-documented.
		3624
		3625	=item Ruby
		3626
		3627	Tony Arcieri has written a ruby extension that offers access to a subset
		3628	of the libev API and adds file handle abstractions, asynchronous DNS and
		3629	more on top of it. It can be found via gem servers. Its homepage is at
		3630	L<http://rev.rubyforge.org/>.
		3631
		3632	Roger Pack reports that using the link order C<-lws2_32 -lmsvcrt-ruby-190>
		3633	makes rev work even on mingw.
		3634
		3635	=item Haskell
		3636
		3637	A haskell binding to libev is available at
		3638	L<http://hackage.haskell.org/cgi-bin/hackage-scripts/package/hlibev>.
		3639
		3640	=item D
		3641
		3642	Leandro Lucarella has written a D language binding (F<ev.d>) for libev, to
		3643	be found at L<http://proj.llucax.com.ar/wiki/evd>.
		3644
		3645	=item Ocaml
		3646
		3647	Erkki Seppala has written Ocaml bindings for libev, to be found at
		3648	L<http://modeemi.cs.tut.fi/~flux/software/ocaml-ev/>.
		3649
		3650	=item Lua
		3651
		3652	Brian Maher has written a partial interface to libev for lua (at the
		3653	time of this writing, only C<ev_io> and C<ev_timer>), to be found at
		3654	L<http://github.com/brimworks/lua-ev>.
		3655
		3656	=back
2286		3657
2287		3658
2288	=head1 MACRO MAGIC	3659	=head1 MACRO MAGIC
2289		3660
2290	Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundamantal	3661	Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundamental
2291	of which is C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines whether (most)	3662	of which is C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines whether (most)
2292	functions and callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument.	3663	functions and callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument.
2293		3664
2294	To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the	3665	To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
2295	following macros are defined:	3666	following macros are defined:
…		…
2300		3671
2301	This provides the loop I<argument> for functions, if one is required ("ev	3672	This provides the loop I<argument> for functions, if one is required ("ev
2302	loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,	3673	loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,
2303	C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:	3674	C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:
2304		3675
2305	ev_unref (EV_A);	3676	ev_unref (EV_A);
2306	ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);	3677	ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);
2307	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);	3678	ev_run (EV_A_ 0);
2308		3679
2309	It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,	3680	It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,
2310	which is often provided by the following macro.	3681	which is often provided by the following macro.
2311		3682
2312	=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>	3683	=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>
2313		3684
2314	This provides the loop I<parameter> for functions, if one is required ("ev	3685	This provides the loop I<parameter> for functions, if one is required ("ev
2315	loop parameter"). The C<EV_P> form is used when this is the sole parameter,	3686	loop parameter"). The C<EV_P> form is used when this is the sole parameter,
2316	C<EV_P_> is used when other parameters are following. Example:	3687	C<EV_P_> is used when other parameters are following. Example:
2317		3688
2318	// this is how ev_unref is being declared	3689	// this is how ev_unref is being declared
2319	static void ev_unref (EV_P);	3690	static void ev_unref (EV_P);
2320		3691
2321	// this is how you can declare your typical callback	3692	// this is how you can declare your typical callback
2322	static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	3693	static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2323		3694
2324	It declares a parameter C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *>, quite	3695	It declares a parameter C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *>, quite
2325	suitable for use with C<EV_A>.	3696	suitable for use with C<EV_A>.
2326		3697
2327	=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>	3698	=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>
2328		3699
2329	Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default	3700	Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
2330	loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").	3701	loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").
		3702
		3703	=item C<EV_DEFAULT_UC>, C<EV_DEFAULT_UC_>
		3704
		3705	Usage identical to C<EV_DEFAULT> and C<EV_DEFAULT_>, but requires that the
		3706	default loop has been initialised (C<UC> == unchecked). Their behaviour
		3707	is undefined when the default loop has not been initialised by a previous
		3708	execution of C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_> or C<ev_default_init (...)>.
		3709
		3710	It is often prudent to use C<EV_DEFAULT> when initialising the first
		3711	watcher in a function but use C<EV_DEFAULT_UC> afterwards.
2331		3712
2332	=back	3713	=back
2333		3714
2334	Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above	3715	Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above
2335	macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported	3716	macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported
2336	or not.	3717	or not.
2337		3718
2338	static void	3719	static void
2339	check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	3720	check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2340	{	3721	{
2341	ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);	3722	ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);
2342	}	3723	}
2343		3724
2344	ev_check check;	3725	ev_check check;
2345	ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);	3726	ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);
2346	ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);	3727	ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);
2347	ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);	3728	ev_run (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
2348		3729
2349	=head1 EMBEDDING	3730	=head1 EMBEDDING
2350		3731
2351	Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host	3732	Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
2352	applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra	3733	applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
…		…
2359	libev somewhere in your source tree).	3740	libev somewhere in your source tree).
2360		3741
2361	=head2 FILESETS	3742	=head2 FILESETS
2362		3743
2363	Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files	3744	Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files
2364	in your app.	3745	in your application.
2365		3746
2366	=head3 CORE EVENT LOOP	3747	=head3 CORE EVENT LOOP
2367		3748
2368	To include only the libev core (all the C<ev_*> functions), with manual	3749	To include only the libev core (all the C<ev_*> functions), with manual
2369	configuration (no autoconf):	3750	configuration (no autoconf):
2370		3751
2371	#define EV_STANDALONE 1	3752	#define EV_STANDALONE 1
2372	#include "ev.c"	3753	#include "ev.c"
2373		3754
2374	This will automatically include F<ev.h>, too, and should be done in a	3755	This will automatically include F<ev.h>, too, and should be done in a
2375	single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use	3756	single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use
2376	it, do the same for F<ev.h> in all files wishing to use this API (best	3757	it, do the same for F<ev.h> in all files wishing to use this API (best
2377	done by writing a wrapper around F<ev.h> that you can include instead and	3758	done by writing a wrapper around F<ev.h> that you can include instead and
2378	where you can put other configuration options):	3759	where you can put other configuration options):
2379		3760
2380	#define EV_STANDALONE 1	3761	#define EV_STANDALONE 1
2381	#include "ev.h"	3762	#include "ev.h"
2382		3763
2383	Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++	3764	Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++
2384	compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated	3765	compiler (at least, that's a stated goal, and breakage will be treated
2385	as a bug).	3766	as a bug).
2386		3767
2387	You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory	3768	You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory
2388	in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):	3769	in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):
2389		3770
2390	ev.h	3771	ev.h
2391	ev.c	3772	ev.c
2392	ev_vars.h	3773	ev_vars.h
2393	ev_wrap.h	3774	ev_wrap.h
2394		3775
2395	ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only	3776	ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only
2396		3777
2397	ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)	3778	ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)
2398	ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)	3779	ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2399	ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)	3780	ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2400	ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)	3781	ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2401	ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)	3782	ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2402		3783
2403	F<ev.c> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need	3784	F<ev.c> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need
2404	to compile this single file.	3785	to compile this single file.
2405		3786
2406	=head3 LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API	3787	=head3 LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API
2407		3788
2408	To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:	3789	To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:
2409		3790
2410	#include "event.c"	3791	#include "event.c"
2411		3792
2412	in the file including F<ev.c>, and:	3793	in the file including F<ev.c>, and:
2413		3794
2414	#include "event.h"	3795	#include "event.h"
2415		3796
2416	in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes F<ev.h>.	3797	in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes F<ev.h>.
2417		3798
2418	You need the following additional files for this:	3799	You need the following additional files for this:
2419		3800
2420	event.h	3801	event.h
2421	event.c	3802	event.c
2422		3803
2423	=head3 AUTOCONF SUPPORT	3804	=head3 AUTOCONF SUPPORT
2424		3805
2425	Instead of using C<EV_STANDALONE=1> and providing your config in	3806	Instead of using C<EV_STANDALONE=1> and providing your configuration in
2426	whatever way you want, you can also C<m4_include([libev.m4])> in your	3807	whatever way you want, you can also C<m4_include([libev.m4])> in your
2427	F<configure.ac> and leave C<EV_STANDALONE> undefined. F<ev.c> will then	3808	F<configure.ac> and leave C<EV_STANDALONE> undefined. F<ev.c> will then
2428	include F<config.h> and configure itself accordingly.	3809	include F<config.h> and configure itself accordingly.
2429		3810
2430	For this of course you need the m4 file:	3811	For this of course you need the m4 file:
2431		3812
2432	libev.m4	3813	libev.m4
2433		3814
2434	=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS	3815	=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS
2435		3816
2436	Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to define	3817	Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to
2437	before including any of its files. The default is not to build for multiplicity	3818	define before including (or compiling) any of its files. The default in
2438	and only include the select backend.	3819	the absence of autoconf is documented for every option.
		3820
		3821	Symbols marked with "(h)" do not change the ABI, and can have different
		3822	values when compiling libev vs. including F<ev.h>, so it is permissible
		3823	to redefine them before including F<ev.h> without breaking compatibility
		3824	to a compiled library. All other symbols change the ABI, which means all
		3825	users of libev and the libev code itself must be compiled with compatible
		3826	settings.
2439		3827
2440	=over 4	3828	=over 4
2441		3829
		3830	=item EV_COMPAT3 (h)
		3831
		3832	Backwards compatibility is a major concern for libev. This is why this
		3833	release of libev comes with wrappers for the functions and symbols that
		3834	have been renamed between libev version 3 and 4.
		3835
		3836	You can disable these wrappers (to test compatibility with future
		3837	versions) by defining C<EV_COMPAT3> to C<0> when compiling your
		3838	sources. This has the additional advantage that you can drop the C<struct>
		3839	from C<struct ev_loop> declarations, as libev will provide an C<ev_loop>
		3840	typedef in that case.
		3841
		3842	In some future version, the default for C<EV_COMPAT3> will become C<0>,
		3843	and in some even more future version the compatibility code will be
		3844	removed completely.
		3845
2442	=item EV_STANDALONE	3846	=item EV_STANDALONE (h)
2443		3847
2444	Must always be C<1> if you do not use autoconf configuration, which	3848	Must always be C<1> if you do not use autoconf configuration, which
2445	keeps libev from including F<config.h>, and it also defines dummy	3849	keeps libev from including F<config.h>, and it also defines dummy
2446	implementations for some libevent functions (such as logging, which is not	3850	implementations for some libevent functions (such as logging, which is not
2447	supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in	3851	supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in
2448	F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.	3852	F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.
2449		3853
		3854	In standalone mode, libev will still try to automatically deduce the
		3855	configuration, but has to be more conservative.
		3856
2450	=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC	3857	=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC
2451		3858
2452	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the	3859	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2453	monotonic clock option at both compiletime and runtime. Otherwise no use	3860	monotonic clock option at both compile time and runtime. Otherwise no
2454	of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you	3861	use of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this,
2455	usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when	3862	you usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it
2456	the functionality isn't available is safe, though, although you have	3863	when the functionality isn't available is safe, though, although you have
2457	to make sure you link against any libraries where the C<clock_gettime>	3864	to make sure you link against any libraries where the C<clock_gettime>
2458	function is hiding in (often F<-lrt>).	3865	function is hiding in (often F<-lrt>). See also C<EV_USE_CLOCK_SYSCALL>.
2459		3866
2460	=item EV_USE_REALTIME	3867	=item EV_USE_REALTIME
2461		3868
2462	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the	3869	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2463	realtime clock option at compiletime (and assume its availability at	3870	real-time clock option at compile time (and assume its availability
2464	runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the realtime clock option will	3871	at runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the real-time clock
2465	be attempted. This effectively replaces C<gettimeofday> by C<clock_get	3872	option will be attempted. This effectively replaces C<gettimeofday>
2466	(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)> and will not normally affect correctness. See the	3873	by C<clock_get (CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)> and will not normally affect
2467	note about libraries in the description of C<EV_USE_MONOTONIC>, though.	3874	correctness. See the note about libraries in the description of
		3875	C<EV_USE_MONOTONIC>, though. Defaults to the opposite value of
		3876	C<EV_USE_CLOCK_SYSCALL>.
		3877
		3878	=item EV_USE_CLOCK_SYSCALL
		3879
		3880	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to use a direct syscall instead
		3881	of calling the system-provided C<clock_gettime> function. This option
		3882	exists because on GNU/Linux, C<clock_gettime> is in C<librt>, but C<librt>
		3883	unconditionally pulls in C<libpthread>, slowing down single-threaded
		3884	programs needlessly. Using a direct syscall is slightly slower (in
		3885	theory), because no optimised vdso implementation can be used, but avoids
		3886	the pthread dependency. Defaults to C<1> on GNU/Linux with glibc 2.x or
		3887	higher, as it simplifies linking (no need for C<-lrt>).
2468		3888
2469	=item EV_USE_NANOSLEEP	3889	=item EV_USE_NANOSLEEP
2470		3890
2471	If defined to be C<1>, libev will assume that C<nanosleep ()> is available	3891	If defined to be C<1>, libev will assume that C<nanosleep ()> is available
2472	and will use it for delays. Otherwise it will use C<select ()>.	3892	and will use it for delays. Otherwise it will use C<select ()>.
2473		3893
		3894	=item EV_USE_EVENTFD
		3895
		3896	If defined to be C<1>, then libev will assume that C<eventfd ()> is
		3897	available and will probe for kernel support at runtime. This will improve
		3898	C<ev_signal> and C<ev_async> performance and reduce resource consumption.
		3899	If undefined, it will be enabled if the headers indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc
		3900	2.7 or newer, otherwise disabled.
		3901
2474	=item EV_USE_SELECT	3902	=item EV_USE_SELECT
2475		3903
2476	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the	3904	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the
2477	C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no	3905	C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at auto-detection will be done: if no
2478	other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend	3906	other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend
2479	will not be compiled in.	3907	will not be compiled in.
2480		3908
2481	=item EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET	3909	=item EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET
2482		3910
2483	If defined to C<1>, then the select backend will use the system C<fd_set>	3911	If defined to C<1>, then the select backend will use the system C<fd_set>
2484	structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing	3912	structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing
2485	C<NFDBITS> or C<fd_mask> definition or it misguesses the bitset layout on	3913	C<NFDBITS> or C<fd_mask> definition or it mis-guesses the bitset layout
2486	exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some	3914	on exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to
2487	low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only	3915	some low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket
2488	allows 64 sockets). The C<FD_SETSIZE> macro, set before compilation, might	3916	only allows 64 sockets). The C<FD_SETSIZE> macro, set before compilation,
2489	influence the size of the C<fd_set> used.	3917	configures the maximum size of the C<fd_set>.
2490		3918
2491	=item EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET	3919	=item EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET
2492		3920
2493	When defined to C<1>, the select backend will assume that	3921	When defined to C<1>, the select backend will assume that
2494	select/socket/connect etc. don't understand file descriptors but	3922	select/socket/connect etc. don't understand file descriptors but
…		…
2496	be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call	3924	be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
2497	C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,	3925	C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,
2498	it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even	3926	it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
2499	on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.	3927	on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.
2500		3928
2501	=item EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE	3929	=item EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE(fd)
2502		3930
2503	If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> is enabled, then libev needs a way to map	3931	If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> is enabled, then libev needs a way to map
2504	file descriptors to socket handles. When not defining this symbol (the	3932	file descriptors to socket handles. When not defining this symbol (the
2505	default), then libev will call C<_get_osfhandle>, which is usually	3933	default), then libev will call C<_get_osfhandle>, which is usually
2506	correct. In some cases, programs use their own file descriptor management,	3934	correct. In some cases, programs use their own file descriptor management,
2507	in which case they can provide this function to map fds to socket handles.	3935	in which case they can provide this function to map fds to socket handles.
2508		3936
		3937	=item EV_WIN32_HANDLE_TO_FD(handle)
		3938
		3939	If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> then libev maps handles to file descriptors
		3940	using the standard C<_open_osfhandle> function. For programs implementing
		3941	their own fd to handle mapping, overwriting this function makes it easier
		3942	to do so. This can be done by defining this macro to an appropriate value.
		3943
		3944	=item EV_WIN32_CLOSE_FD(fd)
		3945
		3946	If programs implement their own fd to handle mapping on win32, then this
		3947	macro can be used to override the C<close> function, useful to unregister
		3948	file descriptors again. Note that the replacement function has to close
		3949	the underlying OS handle.
		3950
2509	=item EV_USE_POLL	3951	=item EV_USE_POLL
2510		3952
2511	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)	3953	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)
2512	backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It	3954	backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It
2513	takes precedence over select.	3955	takes precedence over select.
2514		3956
2515	=item EV_USE_EPOLL	3957	=item EV_USE_EPOLL
2516		3958
2517	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux	3959	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux
2518	C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,	3960	C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2519	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the	3961	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2520	preferred backend for GNU/Linux systems.	3962	backend for GNU/Linux systems. If undefined, it will be enabled if the
		3963	headers indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc 2.4 or newer, otherwise disabled.
2521		3964
2522	=item EV_USE_KQUEUE	3965	=item EV_USE_KQUEUE
2523		3966
2524	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style	3967	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style
2525	C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,	3968	C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,
…		…
2538	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred	3981	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2539	backend for Solaris 10 systems.	3982	backend for Solaris 10 systems.
2540		3983
2541	=item EV_USE_DEVPOLL	3984	=item EV_USE_DEVPOLL
2542		3985
2543	reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.	3986	Reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.
2544		3987
2545	=item EV_USE_INOTIFY	3988	=item EV_USE_INOTIFY
2546		3989
2547	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify	3990	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
2548	interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will	3991	interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will
2549	be detected at runtime.	3992	be detected at runtime. If undefined, it will be enabled if the headers
		3993	indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc 2.4 or newer, otherwise disabled.
2550		3994
		3995	=item EV_ATOMIC_T
		3996
		3997	Libev requires an integer type (suitable for storing C<0> or C<1>) whose
		3998	access is atomic with respect to other threads or signal contexts. No such
		3999	type is easily found in the C language, so you can provide your own type
		4000	that you know is safe for your purposes. It is used both for signal handler "locking"
		4001	as well as for signal and thread safety in C<ev_async> watchers.
		4002
		4003	In the absence of this define, libev will use C<sig_atomic_t volatile>
		4004	(from F<signal.h>), which is usually good enough on most platforms.
		4005
2551	=item EV_H	4006	=item EV_H (h)
2552		4007
2553	The name of the F<ev.h> header file used to include it. The default if	4008	The name of the F<ev.h> header file used to include it. The default if
2554	undefined is C<"ev.h"> in F<event.h> and F<ev.c>. This can be used to	4009	undefined is C<"ev.h"> in F<event.h>, F<ev.c> and F<ev++.h>. This can be
2555	virtually rename the F<ev.h> header file in case of conflicts.	4010	used to virtually rename the F<ev.h> header file in case of conflicts.
2556		4011
2557	=item EV_CONFIG_H	4012	=item EV_CONFIG_H (h)
2558		4013
2559	If C<EV_STANDALONE> isn't C<1>, this variable can be used to override	4014	If C<EV_STANDALONE> isn't C<1>, this variable can be used to override
2560	F<ev.c>'s idea of where to find the F<config.h> file, similarly to	4015	F<ev.c>'s idea of where to find the F<config.h> file, similarly to
2561	C<EV_H>, above.	4016	C<EV_H>, above.
2562		4017
2563	=item EV_EVENT_H	4018	=item EV_EVENT_H (h)
2564		4019
2565	Similarly to C<EV_H>, this macro can be used to override F<event.c>'s idea	4020	Similarly to C<EV_H>, this macro can be used to override F<event.c>'s idea
2566	of how the F<event.h> header can be found, the dfeault is C<"event.h">.	4021	of how the F<event.h> header can be found, the default is C<"event.h">.
2567		4022
2568	=item EV_PROTOTYPES	4023	=item EV_PROTOTYPES (h)
2569		4024
2570	If defined to be C<0>, then F<ev.h> will not define any function	4025	If defined to be C<0>, then F<ev.h> will not define any function
2571	prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is	4026	prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is
2572	occasionally useful if you want to provide your own wrapper functions	4027	occasionally useful if you want to provide your own wrapper functions
2573	around libev functions.	4028	around libev functions.
…		…
2592	When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search	4047	When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search
2593	all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space	4048	all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space
2594	and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (-2 .. +2) is usually	4049	and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (-2 .. +2) is usually
2595	fine.	4050	fine.
2596		4051
2597	If your embedding app does not need any priorities, defining these both to	4052	If your embedding application does not need any priorities, defining these
2598	C<0> will save some memory and cpu.	4053	both to C<0> will save some memory and CPU.
2599		4054
2600	=item EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE	4055	=item EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE, EV_IDLE_ENABLE, EV_EMBED_ENABLE, EV_STAT_ENABLE,
		4056	EV_PREPARE_ENABLE, EV_CHECK_ENABLE, EV_FORK_ENABLE, EV_SIGNAL_ENABLE,
		4057	EV_ASYNC_ENABLE, EV_CHILD_ENABLE.
2601		4058
2602	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then periodic timers are supported. If	4059	If undefined or defined to be C<1> (and the platform supports it), then
2603	defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of	4060	the respective watcher type is supported. If defined to be C<0>, then it
2604	code.	4061	is not. Disabling watcher types mainly saves code size.
2605		4062
2606	=item EV_IDLE_ENABLE	4063	=item EV_FEATURES
2607
2608	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then idle watchers are supported. If
2609	defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2610	code.
2611
2612	=item EV_EMBED_ENABLE
2613
2614	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then embed watchers are supported. If
2615	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2616
2617	=item EV_STAT_ENABLE
2618
2619	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then stat watchers are supported. If
2620	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2621
2622	=item EV_FORK_ENABLE
2623
2624	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then fork watchers are supported. If
2625	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2626
2627	=item EV_MINIMAL
2628		4064
2629	If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some	4065	If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some
2630	speed, define this symbol to C<1>. Currently only used for gcc to override	4066	speed (but with the full API), you can define this symbol to request
2631	some inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% codesize of amd64.	4067	certain subsets of functionality. The default is to enable all features
		4068	that can be enabled on the platform.
		4069
		4070	A typical way to use this symbol is to define it to C<0> (or to a bitset
		4071	with some broad features you want) and then selectively re-enable
		4072	additional parts you want, for example if you want everything minimal,
		4073	but multiple event loop support, async and child watchers and the poll
		4074	backend, use this:
		4075
		4076	#define EV_FEATURES 0
		4077	#define EV_MULTIPLICITY 1
		4078	#define EV_USE_POLL 1
		4079	#define EV_CHILD_ENABLE 1
		4080	#define EV_ASYNC_ENABLE 1
		4081
		4082	The actual value is a bitset, it can be a combination of the following
		4083	values:
		4084
		4085	=over 4
		4086
		4087	=item C<1> - faster/larger code
		4088
		4089	Use larger code to speed up some operations.
		4090
		4091	Currently this is used to override some inlining decisions (enlarging the
		4092	code size by roughly 30% on amd64).
		4093
		4094	When optimising for size, use of compiler flags such as C<-Os> with
		4095	gcc is recommended, as well as C<-DNDEBUG>, as libev contains a number of
		4096	assertions.
		4097
		4098	=item C<2> - faster/larger data structures
		4099
		4100	Replaces the small 2-heap for timer management by a faster 4-heap, larger
		4101	hash table sizes and so on. This will usually further increase code size
		4102	and can additionally have an effect on the size of data structures at
		4103	runtime.
		4104
		4105	=item C<4> - full API configuration
		4106
		4107	This enables priorities (sets C<EV_MAXPRI>=2 and C<EV_MINPRI>=-2), and
		4108	enables multiplicity (C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>=1).
		4109
		4110	=item C<8> - full API
		4111
		4112	This enables a lot of the "lesser used" API functions. See C<ev.h> for
		4113	details on which parts of the API are still available without this
		4114	feature, and do not complain if this subset changes over time.
		4115
		4116	=item C<16> - enable all optional watcher types
		4117
		4118	Enables all optional watcher types. If you want to selectively enable
		4119	only some watcher types other than I/O and timers (e.g. prepare,
		4120	embed, async, child...) you can enable them manually by defining
		4121	C<EV_watchertype_ENABLE> to C<1> instead.
		4122
		4123	=item C<32> - enable all backends
		4124
		4125	This enables all backends - without this feature, you need to enable at
		4126	least one backend manually (C<EV_USE_SELECT> is a good choice).
		4127
		4128	=item C<64> - enable OS-specific "helper" APIs
		4129
		4130	Enable inotify, eventfd, signalfd and similar OS-specific helper APIs by
		4131	default.
		4132
		4133	=back
		4134
		4135	Compiling with C<gcc -Os -DEV_STANDALONE -DEV_USE_EPOLL=1 -DEV_FEATURES=0>
		4136	reduces the compiled size of libev from 24.7Kb code/2.8Kb data to 6.5Kb
		4137	code/0.3Kb data on my GNU/Linux amd64 system, while still giving you I/O
		4138	watchers, timers and monotonic clock support.
		4139
		4140	With an intelligent-enough linker (gcc+binutils are intelligent enough
		4141	when you use C<-Wl,--gc-sections -ffunction-sections>) functions unused by
		4142	your program might be left out as well - a binary starting a timer and an
		4143	I/O watcher then might come out at only 5Kb.
		4144
		4145	=item EV_AVOID_STDIO
		4146
		4147	If this is set to C<1> at compiletime, then libev will avoid using stdio
		4148	functions (printf, scanf, perror etc.). This will increase the code size
		4149	somewhat, but if your program doesn't otherwise depend on stdio and your
		4150	libc allows it, this avoids linking in the stdio library which is quite
		4151	big.
		4152
		4153	Note that error messages might become less precise when this option is
		4154	enabled.
		4155
		4156	=item EV_NSIG
		4157
		4158	The highest supported signal number, +1 (or, the number of
		4159	signals): Normally, libev tries to deduce the maximum number of signals
		4160	automatically, but sometimes this fails, in which case it can be
		4161	specified. Also, using a lower number than detected (C<32> should be
		4162	good for about any system in existence) can save some memory, as libev
		4163	statically allocates some 12-24 bytes per signal number.
2632		4164
2633	=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE	4165	=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE
2634		4166
2635	C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by	4167	C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2636	pid. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>), usually more	4168	pid. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_FEATURES> disabled),
2637	than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to	4169	usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you
2638	increase this value (I<must> be a power of two).	4170	might want to increase this value (I<must> be a power of two).
2639		4171
2640	=item EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE	4172	=item EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE
2641		4173
2642	C<ev_stat> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by	4174	C<ev_stat> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2643	inotify watch id. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>),	4175	inotify watch id. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_FEATURES>
2644	usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of C<ev_stat>	4176	disabled), usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of
2645	watchers you might want to increase this value (I<must> be a power of	4177	C<ev_stat> watchers you might want to increase this value (I<must> be a
2646	two).	4178	power of two).
		4179
		4180	=item EV_USE_4HEAP
		4181
		4182	Heaps are not very cache-efficient. To improve the cache-efficiency of the
		4183	timer and periodics heaps, libev uses a 4-heap when this symbol is defined
		4184	to C<1>. The 4-heap uses more complicated (longer) code but has noticeably
		4185	faster performance with many (thousands) of watchers.
		4186
		4187	The default is C<1>, unless C<EV_FEATURES> overrides it, in which case it
		4188	will be C<0>.
		4189
		4190	=item EV_HEAP_CACHE_AT
		4191
		4192	Heaps are not very cache-efficient. To improve the cache-efficiency of the
		4193	timer and periodics heaps, libev can cache the timestamp (I<at>) within
		4194	the heap structure (selected by defining C<EV_HEAP_CACHE_AT> to C<1>),
		4195	which uses 8-12 bytes more per watcher and a few hundred bytes more code,
		4196	but avoids random read accesses on heap changes. This improves performance
		4197	noticeably with many (hundreds) of watchers.
		4198
		4199	The default is C<1>, unless C<EV_FEATURES> overrides it, in which case it
		4200	will be C<0>.
		4201
		4202	=item EV_VERIFY
		4203
		4204	Controls how much internal verification (see C<ev_verify ()>) will
		4205	be done: If set to C<0>, no internal verification code will be compiled
		4206	in. If set to C<1>, then verification code will be compiled in, but not
		4207	called. If set to C<2>, then the internal verification code will be
		4208	called once per loop, which can slow down libev. If set to C<3>, then the
		4209	verification code will be called very frequently, which will slow down
		4210	libev considerably.
		4211
		4212	The default is C<1>, unless C<EV_FEATURES> overrides it, in which case it
		4213	will be C<0>.
2647		4214
2648	=item EV_COMMON	4215	=item EV_COMMON
2649		4216
2650	By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining	4217	By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining
2651	this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of	4218	this macro to something else you can include more and other types of
2652	members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,	4219	members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
2653	though, and it must be identical each time.	4220	though, and it must be identical each time.
2654		4221
2655	For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:	4222	For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:
2656		4223
2657	#define EV_COMMON \	4224	#define EV_COMMON \
2658	SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \	4225	SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \
2659	SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing ";" */	4226	SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing ";" */
2660		4227
2661	=item EV_CB_DECLARE (type)	4228	=item EV_CB_DECLARE (type)
2662		4229
2663	=item EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)	4230	=item EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)
2664		4231
…		…
2669	definition and a statement, respectively. See the F<ev.h> header file for	4236	definition and a statement, respectively. See the F<ev.h> header file for
2670	their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to	4237	their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to
2671	avoid the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument in all cases, or to use	4238	avoid the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument in all cases, or to use
2672	method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.	4239	method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.
2673		4240
		4241	=back
		4242
2674	=head2 EXPORTED API SYMBOLS	4243	=head2 EXPORTED API SYMBOLS
2675		4244
2676	If you need to re-export the API (e.g. via a dll) and you need a list of	4245	If you need to re-export the API (e.g. via a DLL) and you need a list of
2677	exported symbols, you can use the provided F<Symbol.*> files which list	4246	exported symbols, you can use the provided F<Symbol.*> files which list
2678	all public symbols, one per line:	4247	all public symbols, one per line:
2679		4248
2680	Symbols.ev for libev proper	4249	Symbols.ev for libev proper
2681	Symbols.event for the libevent emulation	4250	Symbols.event for the libevent emulation
2682		4251
2683	This can also be used to rename all public symbols to avoid clashes with	4252	This can also be used to rename all public symbols to avoid clashes with
2684	multiple versions of libev linked together (which is obviously bad in	4253	multiple versions of libev linked together (which is obviously bad in
2685	itself, but sometimes it is inconvinient to avoid this).	4254	itself, but sometimes it is inconvenient to avoid this).
2686		4255
2687	A sed command like this will create wrapper C<#define>'s that you need to	4256	A sed command like this will create wrapper C<#define>'s that you need to
2688	include before including F<ev.h>:	4257	include before including F<ev.h>:
2689		4258
2690	<Symbols.ev sed -e "s/.*/#define & myprefix_&/" >wrap.h	4259	<Symbols.ev sed -e "s/.*/#define & myprefix_&/" >wrap.h
…		…
2707	file.	4276	file.
2708		4277
2709	The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file	4278	The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file
2710	that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:	4279	that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:
2711		4280
2712	#define EV_MINIMAL 1	4281	#define EV_FEATURES 8
2713	#define EV_USE_POLL 0	4282	#define EV_USE_SELECT 1
2714	#define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
2715	#define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0	4283	#define EV_PREPARE_ENABLE 1
		4284	#define EV_IDLE_ENABLE 1
2716	#define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0	4285	#define EV_SIGNAL_ENABLE 1
2717	#define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0	4286	#define EV_CHILD_ENABLE 1
		4287	#define EV_USE_STDEXCEPT 0
2718	#define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>	4288	#define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>
2719	#define EV_MINPRI 0
2720	#define EV_MAXPRI 0
2721		4289
2722	#include "ev++.h"	4290	#include "ev++.h"
2723		4291
2724	And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:	4292	And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:
2725		4293
2726	#include "ev_cpp.h"	4294	#include "ev_cpp.h"
2727	#include "ev.c"	4295	#include "ev.c"
2728		4296
		4297	=head1 INTERACTION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS OR LIBRARIES
2729		4298
2730	=head1 COMPLEXITIES	4299	=head2 THREADS AND COROUTINES
2731		4300
2732	In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside	4301	=head3 THREADS
2733	libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the
2734	documentation for C<ev_default_init>.
2735		4302
2736	All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be	4303	All libev functions are reentrant and thread-safe unless explicitly
2737	extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this	4304	documented otherwise, but libev implements no locking itself. This means
2738	happens asymptotically never with higher number of elements, so O(1) might	4305	that you can use as many loops as you want in parallel, as long as there
2739	mean it might do a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on average	4306	are no concurrent calls into any libev function with the same loop
2740	it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.	4307	parameter (C<ev_default_*> calls have an implicit default loop parameter,
		4308	of course): libev guarantees that different event loops share no data
		4309	structures that need any locking.
		4310
		4311	Or to put it differently: calls with different loop parameters can be done
		4312	concurrently from multiple threads, calls with the same loop parameter
		4313	must be done serially (but can be done from different threads, as long as
		4314	only one thread ever is inside a call at any point in time, e.g. by using
		4315	a mutex per loop).
		4316
		4317	Specifically to support threads (and signal handlers), libev implements
		4318	so-called C<ev_async> watchers, which allow some limited form of
		4319	concurrency on the same event loop, namely waking it up "from the
		4320	outside".
		4321
		4322	If you want to know which design (one loop, locking, or multiple loops
		4323	without or something else still) is best for your problem, then I cannot
		4324	help you, but here is some generic advice:
2741		4325
2742	=over 4	4326	=over 4
2743		4327
2744	=item Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)	4328	=item * most applications have a main thread: use the default libev loop
		4329	in that thread, or create a separate thread running only the default loop.
2745		4330
2746	This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and	4331	This helps integrating other libraries or software modules that use libev
2747	there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that then inserting will	4332	themselves and don't care/know about threading.
2748	have to skip roughly seven (C<ld 100>) of these watchers.
2749		4333
2750	=item Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat or calling again): O(log skipped_other_timers)	4334	=item * one loop per thread is usually a good model.
2751		4335
2752	That means that changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them	4336	Doing this is almost never wrong, sometimes a better-performance model
2753	as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.	4337	exists, but it is always a good start.
2754		4338
2755	=item Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child watchers: O(1)	4339	=item * other models exist, such as the leader/follower pattern, where one
		4340	loop is handed through multiple threads in a kind of round-robin fashion.
2756		4341
2757	These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.	4342	Choosing a model is hard - look around, learn, know that usually you can do
		4343	better than you currently do :-)
2758		4344
2759	=item Stopping check/prepare/idle watchers: O(1)	4345	=item * often you need to talk to some other thread which blocks in the
		4346	event loop.
2760		4347
2761	=item Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))	4348	C<ev_async> watchers can be used to wake them up from other threads safely
		4349	(or from signal contexts...).
2762		4350
2763	These watchers are stored in lists then need to be walked to find the	4351	An example use would be to communicate signals or other events that only
2764	correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually	4352	work in the default loop by registering the signal watcher with the
2765	have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal).	4353	default loop and triggering an C<ev_async> watcher from the default loop
2766		4354	watcher callback into the event loop interested in the signal.
2767	=item Finding the next timer in each loop iteration: O(1)
2768
2769	By virtue of using a binary heap, the next timer is always found at the
2770	beginning of the storage array.
2771
2772	=item Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)
2773
2774	A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires
2775	libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel, depending
2776	on backend and wether C<ev_io_set> was used).
2777
2778	=item Activating one watcher (putting it into the pending state): O(1)
2779
2780	=item Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)
2781
2782	Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each
2783	priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to
2784	linearly search all the priorities, but starting/stopping and activating
2785	watchers becomes O(1) w.r.t. prioritiy handling.
2786		4355
2787	=back	4356	=back
2788		4357
		4358	=head4 THREAD LOCKING EXAMPLE
2789		4359
2790	=head1 Win32 platform limitations and workarounds	4360	Here is a fictitious example of how to run an event loop in a different
		4361	thread than where callbacks are being invoked and watchers are
		4362	created/added/removed.
		4363
		4364	For a real-world example, see the C<EV::Loop::Async> perl module,
		4365	which uses exactly this technique (which is suited for many high-level
		4366	languages).
		4367
		4368	The example uses a pthread mutex to protect the loop data, a condition
		4369	variable to wait for callback invocations, an async watcher to notify the
		4370	event loop thread and an unspecified mechanism to wake up the main thread.
		4371
		4372	First, you need to associate some data with the event loop:
		4373
		4374	typedef struct {
		4375	mutex_t lock; /* global loop lock */
		4376	ev_async async_w;
		4377	thread_t tid;
		4378	cond_t invoke_cv;
		4379	} userdata;
		4380
		4381	void prepare_loop (EV_P)
		4382	{
		4383	// for simplicity, we use a static userdata struct.
		4384	static userdata u;
		4385
		4386	ev_async_init (&u->async_w, async_cb);
		4387	ev_async_start (EV_A_ &u->async_w);
		4388
		4389	pthread_mutex_init (&u->lock, 0);
		4390	pthread_cond_init (&u->invoke_cv, 0);
		4391
		4392	// now associate this with the loop
		4393	ev_set_userdata (EV_A_ u);
		4394	ev_set_invoke_pending_cb (EV_A_ l_invoke);
		4395	ev_set_loop_release_cb (EV_A_ l_release, l_acquire);
		4396
		4397	// then create the thread running ev_loop
		4398	pthread_create (&u->tid, 0, l_run, EV_A);
		4399	}
		4400
		4401	The callback for the C<ev_async> watcher does nothing: the watcher is used
		4402	solely to wake up the event loop so it takes notice of any new watchers
		4403	that might have been added:
		4404
		4405	static void
		4406	async_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
		4407	{
		4408	// just used for the side effects
		4409	}
		4410
		4411	The C<l_release> and C<l_acquire> callbacks simply unlock/lock the mutex
		4412	protecting the loop data, respectively.
		4413
		4414	static void
		4415	l_release (EV_P)
		4416	{
		4417	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
		4418	pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
		4419	}
		4420
		4421	static void
		4422	l_acquire (EV_P)
		4423	{
		4424	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
		4425	pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
		4426	}
		4427
		4428	The event loop thread first acquires the mutex, and then jumps straight
		4429	into C<ev_run>:
		4430
		4431	void *
		4432	l_run (void *thr_arg)
		4433	{
		4434	struct ev_loop *loop = (struct ev_loop *)thr_arg;
		4435
		4436	l_acquire (EV_A);
		4437	pthread_setcanceltype (PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS, 0);
		4438	ev_run (EV_A_ 0);
		4439	l_release (EV_A);
		4440
		4441	return 0;
		4442	}
		4443
		4444	Instead of invoking all pending watchers, the C<l_invoke> callback will
		4445	signal the main thread via some unspecified mechanism (signals? pipe
		4446	writes? C<Async::Interrupt>?) and then waits until all pending watchers
		4447	have been called (in a while loop because a) spurious wakeups are possible
		4448	and b) skipping inter-thread-communication when there are no pending
		4449	watchers is very beneficial):
		4450
		4451	static void
		4452	l_invoke (EV_P)
		4453	{
		4454	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
		4455
		4456	while (ev_pending_count (EV_A))
		4457	{
		4458	wake_up_other_thread_in_some_magic_or_not_so_magic_way ();
		4459	pthread_cond_wait (&u->invoke_cv, &u->lock);
		4460	}
		4461	}
		4462
		4463	Now, whenever the main thread gets told to invoke pending watchers, it
		4464	will grab the lock, call C<ev_invoke_pending> and then signal the loop
		4465	thread to continue:
		4466
		4467	static void
		4468	real_invoke_pending (EV_P)
		4469	{
		4470	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
		4471
		4472	pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
		4473	ev_invoke_pending (EV_A);
		4474	pthread_cond_signal (&u->invoke_cv);
		4475	pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
		4476	}
		4477
		4478	Whenever you want to start/stop a watcher or do other modifications to an
		4479	event loop, you will now have to lock:
		4480
		4481	ev_timer timeout_watcher;
		4482	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
		4483
		4484	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
		4485
		4486	pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
		4487	ev_timer_start (EV_A_ &timeout_watcher);
		4488	ev_async_send (EV_A_ &u->async_w);
		4489	pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
		4490
		4491	Note that sending the C<ev_async> watcher is required because otherwise
		4492	an event loop currently blocking in the kernel will have no knowledge
		4493	about the newly added timer. By waking up the loop it will pick up any new
		4494	watchers in the next event loop iteration.
		4495
		4496	=head3 COROUTINES
		4497
		4498	Libev is very accommodating to coroutines ("cooperative threads"):
		4499	libev fully supports nesting calls to its functions from different
		4500	coroutines (e.g. you can call C<ev_run> on the same loop from two
		4501	different coroutines, and switch freely between both coroutines running
		4502	the loop, as long as you don't confuse yourself). The only exception is
		4503	that you must not do this from C<ev_periodic> reschedule callbacks.
		4504
		4505	Care has been taken to ensure that libev does not keep local state inside
		4506	C<ev_run>, and other calls do not usually allow for coroutine switches as
		4507	they do not call any callbacks.
		4508
		4509	=head2 COMPILER WARNINGS
		4510
		4511	Depending on your compiler and compiler settings, you might get no or a
		4512	lot of warnings when compiling libev code. Some people are apparently
		4513	scared by this.
		4514
		4515	However, these are unavoidable for many reasons. For one, each compiler
		4516	has different warnings, and each user has different tastes regarding
		4517	warning options. "Warn-free" code therefore cannot be a goal except when
		4518	targeting a specific compiler and compiler-version.
		4519
		4520	Another reason is that some compiler warnings require elaborate
		4521	workarounds, or other changes to the code that make it less clear and less
		4522	maintainable.
		4523
		4524	And of course, some compiler warnings are just plain stupid, or simply
		4525	wrong (because they don't actually warn about the condition their message
		4526	seems to warn about). For example, certain older gcc versions had some
		4527	warnings that resulted in an extreme number of false positives. These have
		4528	been fixed, but some people still insist on making code warn-free with
		4529	such buggy versions.
		4530
		4531	While libev is written to generate as few warnings as possible,
		4532	"warn-free" code is not a goal, and it is recommended not to build libev
		4533	with any compiler warnings enabled unless you are prepared to cope with
		4534	them (e.g. by ignoring them). Remember that warnings are just that:
		4535	warnings, not errors, or proof of bugs.
		4536
		4537
		4538	=head2 VALGRIND
		4539
		4540	Valgrind has a special section here because it is a popular tool that is
		4541	highly useful. Unfortunately, valgrind reports are very hard to interpret.
		4542
		4543	If you think you found a bug (memory leak, uninitialised data access etc.)
		4544	in libev, then check twice: If valgrind reports something like:
		4545
		4546	==2274== definitely lost: 0 bytes in 0 blocks.
		4547	==2274== possibly lost: 0 bytes in 0 blocks.
		4548	==2274== still reachable: 256 bytes in 1 blocks.
		4549
		4550	Then there is no memory leak, just as memory accounted to global variables
		4551	is not a memleak - the memory is still being referenced, and didn't leak.
		4552
		4553	Similarly, under some circumstances, valgrind might report kernel bugs
		4554	as if it were a bug in libev (e.g. in realloc or in the poll backend,
		4555	although an acceptable workaround has been found here), or it might be
		4556	confused.
		4557
		4558	Keep in mind that valgrind is a very good tool, but only a tool. Don't
		4559	make it into some kind of religion.
		4560
		4561	If you are unsure about something, feel free to contact the mailing list
		4562	with the full valgrind report and an explanation on why you think this
		4563	is a bug in libev (best check the archives, too :). However, don't be
		4564	annoyed when you get a brisk "this is no bug" answer and take the chance
		4565	of learning how to interpret valgrind properly.
		4566
		4567	If you need, for some reason, empty reports from valgrind for your project
		4568	I suggest using suppression lists.
		4569
		4570
		4571	=head1 PORTABILITY NOTES
		4572
		4573	=head2 GNU/LINUX 32 BIT LIMITATIONS
		4574
		4575	GNU/Linux is the only common platform that supports 64 bit file/large file
		4576	interfaces but I<disables> them by default.
		4577
		4578	That means that libev compiled in the default environment doesn't support
		4579	files larger than 2GiB or so, which mainly affects C<ev_stat> watchers.
		4580
		4581	Unfortunately, many programs try to work around this GNU/Linux issue
		4582	by enabling the large file API, which makes them incompatible with the
		4583	standard libev compiled for their system.
		4584
		4585	Likewise, libev cannot enable the large file API itself as this would
		4586	suddenly make it incompatible to the default compile time environment,
		4587	i.e. all programs not using special compile switches.
		4588
		4589	=head2 OS/X AND DARWIN BUGS
		4590
		4591	The whole thing is a bug if you ask me - basically any system interface
		4592	you touch is broken, whether it is locales, poll, kqueue or even the
		4593	OpenGL drivers.
		4594
		4595	=head3 C<kqueue> is buggy
		4596
		4597	The kqueue syscall is broken in all known versions - most versions support
		4598	only sockets, many support pipes.
		4599
		4600	Libev tries to work around this by not using C<kqueue> by default on this
		4601	rotten platform, but of course you can still ask for it when creating a
		4602	loop - embedding a socket-only kqueue loop into a select-based one is
		4603	probably going to work well.
		4604
		4605	=head3 C<poll> is buggy
		4606
		4607	Instead of fixing C<kqueue>, Apple replaced their (working) C<poll>
		4608	implementation by something calling C<kqueue> internally around the 10.5.6
		4609	release, so now C<kqueue> I<and> C<poll> are broken.
		4610
		4611	Libev tries to work around this by not using C<poll> by default on
		4612	this rotten platform, but of course you can still ask for it when creating
		4613	a loop.
		4614
		4615	=head3 C<select> is buggy
		4616
		4617	All that's left is C<select>, and of course Apple found a way to fuck this
		4618	one up as well: On OS/X, C<select> actively limits the number of file
		4619	descriptors you can pass in to 1024 - your program suddenly crashes when
		4620	you use more.
		4621
		4622	There is an undocumented "workaround" for this - defining
		4623	C<_DARWIN_UNLIMITED_SELECT>, which libev tries to use, so select I<should>
		4624	work on OS/X.
		4625
		4626	=head2 SOLARIS PROBLEMS AND WORKAROUNDS
		4627
		4628	=head3 C<errno> reentrancy
		4629
		4630	The default compile environment on Solaris is unfortunately so
		4631	thread-unsafe that you can't even use components/libraries compiled
		4632	without C<-D_REENTRANT> in a threaded program, which, of course, isn't
		4633	defined by default. A valid, if stupid, implementation choice.
		4634
		4635	If you want to use libev in threaded environments you have to make sure
		4636	it's compiled with C<_REENTRANT> defined.
		4637
		4638	=head3 Event port backend
		4639
		4640	The scalable event interface for Solaris is called "event
		4641	ports". Unfortunately, this mechanism is very buggy in all major
		4642	releases. If you run into high CPU usage, your program freezes or you get
		4643	a large number of spurious wakeups, make sure you have all the relevant
		4644	and latest kernel patches applied. No, I don't know which ones, but there
		4645	are multiple ones to apply, and afterwards, event ports actually work
		4646	great.
		4647
		4648	If you can't get it to work, you can try running the program by setting
		4649	the environment variable C<LIBEV_FLAGS=3> to only allow C<poll> and
		4650	C<select> backends.
		4651
		4652	=head2 AIX POLL BUG
		4653
		4654	AIX unfortunately has a broken C<poll.h> header. Libev works around
		4655	this by trying to avoid the poll backend altogether (i.e. it's not even
		4656	compiled in), which normally isn't a big problem as C<select> works fine
		4657	with large bitsets on AIX, and AIX is dead anyway.
		4658
		4659	=head2 WIN32 PLATFORM LIMITATIONS AND WORKAROUNDS
		4660
		4661	=head3 General issues
2791		4662
2792	Win32 doesn't support any of the standards (e.g. POSIX) that libev	4663	Win32 doesn't support any of the standards (e.g. POSIX) that libev
2793	requires, and its I/O model is fundamentally incompatible with the POSIX	4664	requires, and its I/O model is fundamentally incompatible with the POSIX
2794	model. Libev still offers limited functionality on this platform in	4665	model. Libev still offers limited functionality on this platform in
2795	the form of the C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> backend, and only supports socket	4666	the form of the C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> backend, and only supports socket
2796	descriptors. This only applies when using Win32 natively, not when using	4667	descriptors. This only applies when using Win32 natively, not when using
2797	e.g. cygwin.	4668	e.g. cygwin. Actually, it only applies to the microsofts own compilers,
		4669	as every compielr comes with a slightly differently broken/incompatible
		4670	environment.
		4671
		4672	Lifting these limitations would basically require the full
		4673	re-implementation of the I/O system. If you are into this kind of thing,
		4674	then note that glib does exactly that for you in a very portable way (note
		4675	also that glib is the slowest event library known to man).
2798		4676
2799	There is no supported compilation method available on windows except	4677	There is no supported compilation method available on windows except
2800	embedding it into other applications.	4678	embedding it into other applications.
2801		4679
		4680	Sensible signal handling is officially unsupported by Microsoft - libev
		4681	tries its best, but under most conditions, signals will simply not work.
		4682
		4683	Not a libev limitation but worth mentioning: windows apparently doesn't
		4684	accept large writes: instead of resulting in a partial write, windows will
		4685	either accept everything or return C<ENOBUFS> if the buffer is too large,
		4686	so make sure you only write small amounts into your sockets (less than a
		4687	megabyte seems safe, but this apparently depends on the amount of memory
		4688	available).
		4689
2802	Due to the many, low, and arbitrary limits on the win32 platform and the	4690	Due to the many, low, and arbitrary limits on the win32 platform and
2803	abysmal performance of winsockets, using a large number of sockets is not	4691	the abysmal performance of winsockets, using a large number of sockets
2804	recommended (and not reasonable). If your program needs to use more than	4692	is not recommended (and not reasonable). If your program needs to use
2805	a hundred or so sockets, then likely it needs to use a totally different	4693	more than a hundred or so sockets, then likely it needs to use a totally
2806	implementation for windows, as libev offers the POSIX model, which cannot	4694	different implementation for windows, as libev offers the POSIX readiness
2807	be implemented efficiently on windows (microsoft monopoly games).	4695	notification model, which cannot be implemented efficiently on windows
		4696	(due to Microsoft monopoly games).
2808		4697
2809	=over 4	4698	A typical way to use libev under windows is to embed it (see the embedding
		4699	section for details) and use the following F<evwrap.h> header file instead
		4700	of F<ev.h>:
2810		4701
		4702	#define EV_STANDALONE /* keeps ev from requiring config.h */
		4703	#define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* configure libev for windows select */
		4704
		4705	#include "ev.h"
		4706
		4707	And compile the following F<evwrap.c> file into your project (make sure
		4708	you do I<not> compile the F<ev.c> or any other embedded source files!):
		4709
		4710	#include "evwrap.h"
		4711	#include "ev.c"
		4712
2811	=item The winsocket select function	4713	=head3 The winsocket C<select> function
2812		4714
2813	The winsocket C<select> function doesn't follow POSIX in that it requires	4715	The winsocket C<select> function doesn't follow POSIX in that it
2814	socket I<handles> and not socket I<file descriptors>. This makes select	4716	requires socket I<handles> and not socket I<file descriptors> (it is
2815	very inefficient, and also requires a mapping from file descriptors	4717	also extremely buggy). This makes select very inefficient, and also
2816	to socket handles. See the discussion of the C<EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET>,	4718	requires a mapping from file descriptors to socket handles (the Microsoft
2817	C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> and C<EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE> preprocessor	4719	C runtime provides the function C<_open_osfhandle> for this). See the
2818	symbols for more info.	4720	discussion of the C<EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET>, C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> and
		4721	C<EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE> preprocessor symbols for more info.
2819		4722
2820	The configuration for a "naked" win32 using the microsoft runtime	4723	The configuration for a "naked" win32 using the Microsoft runtime
2821	libraries and raw winsocket select is:	4724	libraries and raw winsocket select is:
2822		4725
2823	#define EV_USE_SELECT 1	4726	#define EV_USE_SELECT 1
2824	#define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* forces EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET, too */	4727	#define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* forces EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET, too */
2825		4728
2826	Note that winsockets handling of fd sets is O(n), so you can easily get a	4729	Note that winsockets handling of fd sets is O(n), so you can easily get a
2827	complexity in the O(n²) range when using win32.	4730	complexity in the O(n²) range when using win32.
2828		4731
2829	=item Limited number of file descriptors	4732	=head3 Limited number of file descriptors
2830		4733
2831	Windows has numerous arbitrary (and low) limits on things. Early versions	4734	Windows has numerous arbitrary (and low) limits on things.
2832	of winsocket's select only supported waiting for a max. of C<64> handles	4735
		4736	Early versions of winsocket's select only supported waiting for a maximum
2833	(probably owning to the fact that all windows kernels can only wait for	4737	of C<64> handles (probably owning to the fact that all windows kernels
2834	C<64> things at the same time internally; microsoft recommends spawning a	4738	can only wait for C<64> things at the same time internally; Microsoft
2835	chain of threads and wait for 63 handles and the previous thread in each).	4739	recommends spawning a chain of threads and wait for 63 handles and the
		4740	previous thread in each. Sounds great!).
2836		4741
2837	Newer versions support more handles, but you need to define C<FD_SETSIZE>	4742	Newer versions support more handles, but you need to define C<FD_SETSIZE>
2838	to some high number (e.g. C<2048>) before compiling the winsocket select	4743	to some high number (e.g. C<2048>) before compiling the winsocket select
2839	call (which might be in libev or elsewhere, for example, perl does its own	4744	call (which might be in libev or elsewhere, for example, perl and many
2840	select emulation on windows).	4745	other interpreters do their own select emulation on windows).
2841		4746
2842	Another limit is the number of file descriptors in the microsoft runtime	4747	Another limit is the number of file descriptors in the Microsoft runtime
2843	libraries, which by default is C<64> (there must be a hidden I<64> fetish	4748	libraries, which by default is C<64> (there must be a hidden I<64>
2844	or something like this inside microsoft). You can increase this by calling	4749	fetish or something like this inside Microsoft). You can increase this
2845	C<_setmaxstdio>, which can increase this limit to C<2048> (another	4750	by calling C<_setmaxstdio>, which can increase this limit to C<2048>
2846	arbitrary limit), but is broken in many versions of the microsoft runtime	4751	(another arbitrary limit), but is broken in many versions of the Microsoft
2847	libraries.
2848
2849	This might get you to about C<512> or C<2048> sockets (depending on	4752	runtime libraries. This might get you to about C<512> or C<2048> sockets
2850	windows version and/or the phase of the moon). To get more, you need to	4753	(depending on windows version and/or the phase of the moon). To get more,
2851	wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but the cost of	4754	you need to wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but
2852	calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable.	4755	the cost of calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable.
		4756
		4757	=head2 PORTABILITY REQUIREMENTS
		4758
		4759	In addition to a working ISO-C implementation and of course the
		4760	backend-specific APIs, libev relies on a few additional extensions:
		4761
		4762	=over 4
		4763
		4764	=item C<void (*)(ev_watcher_type *, int revents)> must have compatible
		4765	calling conventions regardless of C<ev_watcher_type *>.
		4766
		4767	Libev assumes not only that all watcher pointers have the same internal
		4768	structure (guaranteed by POSIX but not by ISO C for example), but it also
		4769	assumes that the same (machine) code can be used to call any watcher
		4770	callback: The watcher callbacks have different type signatures, but libev
		4771	calls them using an C<ev_watcher *> internally.
		4772
		4773	=item pointer accesses must be thread-atomic
		4774
		4775	Accessing a pointer value must be atomic, it must both be readable and
		4776	writable in one piece - this is the case on all current architectures.
		4777
		4778	=item C<sig_atomic_t volatile> must be thread-atomic as well
		4779
		4780	The type C<sig_atomic_t volatile> (or whatever is defined as
		4781	C<EV_ATOMIC_T>) must be atomic with respect to accesses from different
		4782	threads. This is not part of the specification for C<sig_atomic_t>, but is
		4783	believed to be sufficiently portable.
		4784
		4785	=item C<sigprocmask> must work in a threaded environment
		4786
		4787	Libev uses C<sigprocmask> to temporarily block signals. This is not
		4788	allowed in a threaded program (C<pthread_sigmask> has to be used). Typical
		4789	pthread implementations will either allow C<sigprocmask> in the "main
		4790	thread" or will block signals process-wide, both behaviours would
		4791	be compatible with libev. Interaction between C<sigprocmask> and
		4792	C<pthread_sigmask> could complicate things, however.
		4793
		4794	The most portable way to handle signals is to block signals in all threads
		4795	except the initial one, and run the default loop in the initial thread as
		4796	well.
		4797
		4798	=item C<long> must be large enough for common memory allocation sizes
		4799
		4800	To improve portability and simplify its API, libev uses C<long> internally
		4801	instead of C<size_t> when allocating its data structures. On non-POSIX
		4802	systems (Microsoft...) this might be unexpectedly low, but is still at
		4803	least 31 bits everywhere, which is enough for hundreds of millions of
		4804	watchers.
		4805
		4806	=item C<double> must hold a time value in seconds with enough accuracy
		4807
		4808	The type C<double> is used to represent timestamps. It is required to
		4809	have at least 51 bits of mantissa (and 9 bits of exponent), which is
		4810	good enough for at least into the year 4000 with millisecond accuracy
		4811	(the design goal for libev). This requirement is overfulfilled by
		4812	implementations using IEEE 754, which is basically all existing ones. With
		4813	IEEE 754 doubles, you get microsecond accuracy until at least 2200.
2853		4814
2854	=back	4815	=back
2855		4816
		4817	If you know of other additional requirements drop me a note.
		4818
		4819
		4820	=head1 ALGORITHMIC COMPLEXITIES
		4821
		4822	In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
		4823	libev will be documented. For complexity discussions about backends see
		4824	the documentation for C<ev_default_init>.
		4825
		4826	All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be
		4827	extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this
		4828	happens asymptotically rarer with higher number of elements, so O(1) might
		4829	mean that libev does a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on
		4830	average it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.
		4831
		4832	=over 4
		4833
		4834	=item Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)
		4835
		4836	This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and
		4837	there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that, then inserting will
		4838	have to skip roughly seven (C<ld 100>) of these watchers.
		4839
		4840	=item Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat or calling again): O(log skipped_other_timers)
		4841
		4842	That means that changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them,
		4843	as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.
		4844
		4845	=item Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child/fork/async watchers: O(1)
		4846
		4847	These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.
		4848
		4849	=item Stopping check/prepare/idle/fork/async watchers: O(1)
		4850
		4851	=item Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))
		4852
		4853	These watchers are stored in lists, so they need to be walked to find the
		4854	correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually
		4855	have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal: one is typical, two
		4856	is rare).
		4857
		4858	=item Finding the next timer in each loop iteration: O(1)
		4859
		4860	By virtue of using a binary or 4-heap, the next timer is always found at a
		4861	fixed position in the storage array.
		4862
		4863	=item Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)
		4864
		4865	A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires
		4866	libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel, depending
		4867	on backend and whether C<ev_io_set> was used).
		4868
		4869	=item Activating one watcher (putting it into the pending state): O(1)
		4870
		4871	=item Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)
		4872
		4873	Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each
		4874	priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to
		4875	linearly search all the priorities, but starting/stopping and activating
		4876	watchers becomes O(1) with respect to priority handling.
		4877
		4878	=item Sending an ev_async: O(1)
		4879
		4880	=item Processing ev_async_send: O(number_of_async_watchers)
		4881
		4882	=item Processing signals: O(max_signal_number)
		4883
		4884	Sending involves a system call I<iff> there were no other C<ev_async_send>
		4885	calls in the current loop iteration. Checking for async and signal events
		4886	involves iterating over all running async watchers or all signal numbers.
		4887
		4888	=back
		4889
		4890
		4891	=head1 PORTING FROM LIBEV 3.X TO 4.X
		4892
		4893	The major version 4 introduced some incompatible changes to the API.
		4894
		4895	At the moment, the C<ev.h> header file provides compatibility definitions
		4896	for all changes, so most programs should still compile. The compatibility
		4897	layer might be removed in later versions of libev, so better update to the
		4898	new API early than late.
		4899
		4900	=over 4
		4901
		4902	=item C<EV_COMPAT3> backwards compatibility mechanism
		4903
		4904	The backward compatibility mechanism can be controlled by
		4905	C<EV_COMPAT3>. See L<PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS> in the L<EMBEDDING>
		4906	section.
		4907
		4908	=item C<ev_default_destroy> and C<ev_default_fork> have been removed
		4909
		4910	These calls can be replaced easily by their C<ev_loop_xxx> counterparts:
		4911
		4912	ev_loop_destroy (EV_DEFAULT_UC);
		4913	ev_loop_fork (EV_DEFAULT);
		4914
		4915	=item function/symbol renames
		4916
		4917	A number of functions and symbols have been renamed:
		4918
		4919	ev_loop => ev_run
		4920	EVLOOP_NONBLOCK => EVRUN_NOWAIT
		4921	EVLOOP_ONESHOT => EVRUN_ONCE
		4922
		4923	ev_unloop => ev_break
		4924	EVUNLOOP_CANCEL => EVBREAK_CANCEL
		4925	EVUNLOOP_ONE => EVBREAK_ONE
		4926	EVUNLOOP_ALL => EVBREAK_ALL
		4927
		4928	EV_TIMEOUT => EV_TIMER
		4929
		4930	ev_loop_count => ev_iteration
		4931	ev_loop_depth => ev_depth
		4932	ev_loop_verify => ev_verify
		4933
		4934	Most functions working on C<struct ev_loop> objects don't have an
		4935	C<ev_loop_> prefix, so it was removed; C<ev_loop>, C<ev_unloop> and
		4936	associated constants have been renamed to not collide with the C<struct
		4937	ev_loop> anymore and C<EV_TIMER> now follows the same naming scheme
		4938	as all other watcher types. Note that C<ev_loop_fork> is still called
		4939	C<ev_loop_fork> because it would otherwise clash with the C<ev_fork>
		4940	typedef.
		4941
		4942	=item C<EV_MINIMAL> mechanism replaced by C<EV_FEATURES>
		4943
		4944	The preprocessor symbol C<EV_MINIMAL> has been replaced by a different
		4945	mechanism, C<EV_FEATURES>. Programs using C<EV_MINIMAL> usually compile
		4946	and work, but the library code will of course be larger.
		4947
		4948	=back
		4949
		4950
		4951	=head1 GLOSSARY
		4952
		4953	=over 4
		4954
		4955	=item active
		4956
		4957	A watcher is active as long as it has been started and not yet stopped.
		4958	See L<WATCHER STATES> for details.
		4959
		4960	=item application
		4961
		4962	In this document, an application is whatever is using libev.
		4963
		4964	=item backend
		4965
		4966	The part of the code dealing with the operating system interfaces.
		4967
		4968	=item callback
		4969
		4970	The address of a function that is called when some event has been
		4971	detected. Callbacks are being passed the event loop, the watcher that
		4972	received the event, and the actual event bitset.
		4973
		4974	=item callback/watcher invocation
		4975
		4976	The act of calling the callback associated with a watcher.
		4977
		4978	=item event
		4979
		4980	A change of state of some external event, such as data now being available
		4981	for reading on a file descriptor, time having passed or simply not having
		4982	any other events happening anymore.
		4983
		4984	In libev, events are represented as single bits (such as C<EV_READ> or
		4985	C<EV_TIMER>).
		4986
		4987	=item event library
		4988
		4989	A software package implementing an event model and loop.
		4990
		4991	=item event loop
		4992
		4993	An entity that handles and processes external events and converts them
		4994	into callback invocations.
		4995
		4996	=item event model
		4997
		4998	The model used to describe how an event loop handles and processes
		4999	watchers and events.
		5000
		5001	=item pending
		5002
		5003	A watcher is pending as soon as the corresponding event has been
		5004	detected. See L<WATCHER STATES> for details.
		5005
		5006	=item real time
		5007
		5008	The physical time that is observed. It is apparently strictly monotonic :)
		5009
		5010	=item wall-clock time
		5011
		5012	The time and date as shown on clocks. Unlike real time, it can actually
		5013	be wrong and jump forwards and backwards, e.g. when the you adjust your
		5014	clock.
		5015
		5016	=item watcher
		5017
		5018	A data structure that describes interest in certain events. Watchers need
		5019	to be started (attached to an event loop) before they can receive events.
		5020
		5021	=back
2856		5022
2857	=head1 AUTHOR	5023	=head1 AUTHOR
2858		5024
2859	Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>.	5025	Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>, with repeated corrections by Mikael
		5026	Magnusson and Emanuele Giaquinta.
2860		5027

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