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Revision 1.138 by root, Mon Mar 31 01:14:12 2008 UTC vs.
Revision 1.142 by root, Sun Apr 6 09:53:18 2008 UTC

275flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards). 275flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards).
276 276
277If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this 277If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this
278function. 278function.
279 279
280Note that this function is I<not> thread-safe, so if you want to use it
281from multiple threads, you have to lock (note also that this is unlikely,
282as loops cannot bes hared easily between threads anyway).
283
280The default loop is the only loop that can handle C<ev_signal> and 284The default loop is the only loop that can handle C<ev_signal> and
281C<ev_child> watchers, and to do this, it always registers a handler 285C<ev_child> watchers, and to do this, it always registers a handler
282for C<SIGCHLD>. If this is a problem for your app you can either 286for C<SIGCHLD>. If this is a problem for your app you can either
283create a dynamic loop with C<ev_loop_new> that doesn't do that, or you 287create a dynamic loop with C<ev_loop_new> that doesn't do that, or you
284can simply overwrite the C<SIGCHLD> signal handler I<after> calling 288can simply overwrite the C<SIGCHLD> signal handler I<after> calling
354For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select, 358For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,
355but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale 359but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale
356like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd), 360like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd),
357epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds). The epoll design has a number 361epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds). The epoll design has a number
358of shortcomings, such as silently dropping events in some hard-to-detect 362of shortcomings, such as silently dropping events in some hard-to-detect
359cases and rewiring a syscall per fd change, no fork support and bad 363cases and requiring a syscall per fd change, no fork support and bad
360support for dup. 364support for dup.
361 365
362While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration 366While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration
363will result in some caching, there is still a syscall per such incident 367will result in some caching, there is still a syscall per such incident
364(because the fd could point to a different file description now), so its 368(because the fd could point to a different file description now), so its
465 469
466Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is 470Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is
467always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot 471always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot
468handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by 472handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
469undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled). 473undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).
474
475Note that this function I<is> thread-safe, and the recommended way to use
476libev with threads is indeed to create one loop per thread, and using the
477default loop in the "main" or "initial" thread.
470 478
471Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else. 479Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.
472 480
473 struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV); 481 struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
474 if (!epoller) 482 if (!epoller)
2280 2288
2281This call incurs the overhead of a syscall only once per loop iteration, 2289This call incurs the overhead of a syscall only once per loop iteration,
2282so while the overhead might be noticable, it doesn't apply to repeated 2290so while the overhead might be noticable, it doesn't apply to repeated
2283calls to C<ev_async_send>. 2291calls to C<ev_async_send>.
2284 2292
2293=item bool = ev_async_pending (ev_async *)
2294
2295Returns a non-zero value when C<ev_async_send> has been called on the
2296watcher but the event has not yet been processed (or even noted) by the
2297event loop.
2298
2299C<ev_async_send> sets a flag in the watcher and wakes up the loop. When
2300the loop iterates next and checks for the watcher to have become active,
2301it will reset the flag again. C<ev_async_pending> can be used to very
2302quickly check wether invoking the loop might be a good idea.
2303
2304Not that this does I<not> check wether the watcher itself is pending, only
2305wether it has been requested to make this watcher pending.
2306
2285=back 2307=back
2286 2308
2287 2309
2288=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS 2310=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS
2289 2311
2715 2737
2716 libev.m4 2738 libev.m4
2717 2739
2718=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS 2740=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS
2719 2741
2720Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to define 2742Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to
2721before including any of its files. The default is not to build for multiplicity 2743define before including any of its files. The default in the absense of
2722and only include the select backend. 2744autoconf is noted for every option.
2723 2745
2724=over 4 2746=over 4
2725 2747
2726=item EV_STANDALONE 2748=item EV_STANDALONE
2727 2749
2753=item EV_USE_NANOSLEEP 2775=item EV_USE_NANOSLEEP
2754 2776
2755If defined to be C<1>, libev will assume that C<nanosleep ()> is available 2777If defined to be C<1>, libev will assume that C<nanosleep ()> is available
2756and will use it for delays. Otherwise it will use C<select ()>. 2778and will use it for delays. Otherwise it will use C<select ()>.
2757 2779
2780=item EV_USE_EVENTFD
2781
2782If defined to be C<1>, then libev will assume that C<eventfd ()> is
2783available and will probe for kernel support at runtime. This will improve
2784C<ev_signal> and C<ev_async> performance and reduce resource consumption.
2785If undefined, it will be enabled if the headers indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc
27862.7 or newer, otherwise disabled.
2787
2758=item EV_USE_SELECT 2788=item EV_USE_SELECT
2759 2789
2760If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the 2790If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the
2761C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no 2791C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no
2762other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend 2792other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend
2798 2828
2799=item EV_USE_EPOLL 2829=item EV_USE_EPOLL
2800 2830
2801If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux 2831If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux
2802C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime, 2832C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2803otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the 2833otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2804preferred backend for GNU/Linux systems. 2834backend for GNU/Linux systems. If undefined, it will be enabled if the
2835headers indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc 2.4 or newer, otherwise disabled.
2805 2836
2806=item EV_USE_KQUEUE 2837=item EV_USE_KQUEUE
2807 2838
2808If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style 2839If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style
2809C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime, 2840C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,
2828 2859
2829=item EV_USE_INOTIFY 2860=item EV_USE_INOTIFY
2830 2861
2831If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify 2862If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
2832interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will 2863interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will
2833be detected at runtime. 2864be detected at runtime. If undefined, it will be enabled if the headers
2865indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc 2.4 or newer, otherwise disabled.
2834 2866
2835=item EV_ATOMIC_T 2867=item EV_ATOMIC_T
2836 2868
2837Libev requires an integer type (suitable for storing C<0> or C<1>) whose 2869Libev requires an integer type (suitable for storing C<0> or C<1>) whose
2838access is atomic with respect to other threads or signal contexts. No such 2870access is atomic with respect to other threads or signal contexts. No such

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