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Revision 1.55 by root, Tue Nov 27 20:38:07 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.169 by root, Fri Jun 20 23:31:19 2008 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	=head1 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	// every watcher type has its own typedef'd struct
		15	// with the name ev_<type>
13	ev_io stdin_watcher;	16	ev_io stdin_watcher;
14	ev_timer timeout_watcher;	17	ev_timer timeout_watcher;
15		18
16	/* called when data readable on stdin */	19	// all watcher callbacks have a similar signature
		20	// this callback is called when data is readable on stdin
17	static void	21	static void
18	stdin_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_io *w, int revents)	22	stdin_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_io *w, int revents)
19	{	23	{
20	/* puts ("stdin ready"); */	24	puts ("stdin ready");
21	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w); /* just a syntax example */	25	// for one-shot events, one must manually stop the watcher
22	ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ALL); /* leave all loop calls */	26	// with its corresponding stop function.
		27	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w);
		28
		29	// this causes all nested ev_loop's to stop iterating
		30	ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ALL);
23	}	31	}
24		32
		33	// another callback, this time for a time-out
25	static void	34	static void
26	timeout_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	35	timeout_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
27	{	36	{
28	/* puts ("timeout"); */	37	puts ("timeout");
29	ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ONE); /* leave one loop call */	38	// this causes the innermost ev_loop to stop iterating
		39	ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ONE);
30	}	40	}
31		41
32	int	42	int
33	main (void)	43	main (void)
34	{	44	{
		45	// use the default event loop unless you have special needs
35	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);	46	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
36		47
37	/* initialise an io watcher, then start it */	48	// initialise an io watcher, then start it
		49	// this one will watch for stdin to become readable
38	ev_io_init (&stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);	50	ev_io_init (&stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);
39	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);	51	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
40		52
		53	// initialise a timer watcher, then start it
41	/* simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout */	54	// simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout
42	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);	55	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
43	ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);	56	ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);
44		57
45	/* loop till timeout or data ready */	58	// now wait for events to arrive
46	ev_loop (loop, 0);	59	ev_loop (loop, 0);
47		60
		61	// unloop was called, so exit
48	return 0;	62	return 0;
49	}	63	}
50		64
51	=head1 DESCRIPTION	65	=head1 DESCRIPTION
52		66
		67	The newest version of this document is also available as an html-formatted
		68	web page you might find easier to navigate when reading it for the first
		69	time: L<http://pod.tst.eu/http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.pod>.
		70
53	Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a	71	Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a
54	file descriptor being readable or a timeout occuring), and it will manage	72	file descriptor being readable or a timeout occurring), and it will manage
55	these event sources and provide your program with events.	73	these event sources and provide your program with events.
56		74
57	To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process	75	To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process
58	(or thread) by executing the I<event loop> handler, and will then	76	(or thread) by executing the I<event loop> handler, and will then
59	communicate events via a callback mechanism.	77	communicate events via a callback mechanism.
…		…
61	You register interest in certain events by registering so-called I<event	79	You register interest in certain events by registering so-called I<event
62	watchers>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the	80	watchers>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the
63	details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by I<starting> the	81	details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by I<starting> the
64	watcher.	82	watcher.
65		83
66	=head1 FEATURES	84	=head2 FEATURES
67		85
68	Libev supports C<select>, C<poll>, the linux-specific C<epoll>, the	86	Libev supports C<select>, C<poll>, the Linux-specific C<epoll>, the
69	bsd-specific C<kqueue> and the solaris-specific event port mechanisms	87	BSD-specific C<kqueue> and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms
70	for file descriptor events (C<ev_io>), relative timers (C<ev_timer>),	88	for file descriptor events (C<ev_io>), the Linux C<inotify> interface
		89	(for C<ev_stat>), relative timers (C<ev_timer>), absolute timers
71	absolute timers with customised rescheduling (C<ev_periodic>), synchronous	90	with customised rescheduling (C<ev_periodic>), synchronous signals
72	signals (C<ev_signal>), process status change events (C<ev_child>), and	91	(C<ev_signal>), process status change events (C<ev_child>), and event
73	event watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (C<ev_idle>,	92	watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (C<ev_idle>,
74	C<ev_embed>, C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> watchers) as well as	93	C<ev_embed>, C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> watchers) as well as
75	file watchers (C<ev_stat>) and even limited support for fork events	94	file watchers (C<ev_stat>) and even limited support for fork events
76	(C<ev_fork>).	95	(C<ev_fork>).
77		96
78	It also is quite fast (see this	97	It also is quite fast (see this
79	L<benchmark|http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html> comparing it to libevent	98	L<benchmark|http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html> comparing it to libevent
80	for example).	99	for example).
81		100
82	=head1 CONVENTIONS	101	=head2 CONVENTIONS
83		102
84	Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration will	103	Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default (and most common)
85	be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info about	104	configuration will be described, which supports multiple event loops. For
86	various configuration options please have a look at B<EMBED> section in	105	more info about various configuration options please have a look at
87	this manual. If libev was configured without support for multiple event	106	B<EMBED> section in this manual. If libev was configured without support
88	loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of name C<loop>	107	for multiple event loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of
89	(which is always of type C<struct ev_loop *>) will not have this argument.	108	name C<loop> (which is always of type C<struct ev_loop *>) will not have
		109	this argument.
90		110
91	=head1 TIME REPRESENTATION	111	=head2 TIME REPRESENTATION
92		112
93	Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the	113	Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the
94	(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near	114	(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near
95	the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is	115	the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is
96	called C<ev_tstamp>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases	116	called C<ev_tstamp>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases
97	to the C<double> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on	117	to the C<double> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on
98	it, you should treat it as such.	118	it, you should treat it as some floating point value. Unlike the name
		119	component C<stamp> might indicate, it is also used for time differences
		120	throughout libev.
		121
		122	=head1 ERROR HANDLING
		123
		124	Libev knows three classes of errors: operating system errors, usage errors
		125	and internal errors (bugs).
		126
		127	When libev catches an operating system error it cannot handle (for example
		128	a system call indicating a condition libev cannot fix), it calls the callback
		129	set via C<ev_set_syserr_cb>, which is supposed to fix the problem or
		130	abort. The default is to print a diagnostic message and to call C<abort
		131	()>.
		132
		133	When libev detects a usage error such as a negative timer interval, then
		134	it will print a diagnostic message and abort (via the C<assert> mechanism,
		135	so C<NDEBUG> will disable this checking): these are programming errors in
		136	the libev caller and need to be fixed there.
		137
		138	Libev also has a few internal error-checking C<assert>ions, and also has
		139	extensive consistency checking code. These do not trigger under normal
		140	circumstances, as they indicate either a bug in libev or worse.
		141
99		142
100	=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS	143	=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
101		144
102	These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the	145	These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the
103	library in any way.	146	library in any way.
…		…
108		151
109	Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the	152	Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the
110	C<ev_now> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp	153	C<ev_now> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp
111	you actually want to know.	154	you actually want to know.
112		155
		156	=item ev_sleep (ev_tstamp interval)
		157
		158	Sleep for the given interval: The current thread will be blocked until
		159	either it is interrupted or the given time interval has passed. Basically
		160	this is a sub-second-resolution C<sleep ()>.
		161
113	=item int ev_version_major ()	162	=item int ev_version_major ()
114		163
115	=item int ev_version_minor ()	164	=item int ev_version_minor ()
116		165
117	You can find out the major and minor version numbers of the library	166	You can find out the major and minor ABI version numbers of the library
118	you linked against by calling the functions C<ev_version_major> and	167	you linked against by calling the functions C<ev_version_major> and
119	C<ev_version_minor>. If you want, you can compare against the global	168	C<ev_version_minor>. If you want, you can compare against the global
120	symbols C<EV_VERSION_MAJOR> and C<EV_VERSION_MINOR>, which specify the	169	symbols C<EV_VERSION_MAJOR> and C<EV_VERSION_MINOR>, which specify the
121	version of the library your program was compiled against.	170	version of the library your program was compiled against.
122		171
		172	These version numbers refer to the ABI version of the library, not the
		173	release version.
		174
123	Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch,	175	Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch,
124	as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually	176	as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
125	compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually	177	compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually
126	not a problem.	178	not a problem.
127		179
128	Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong	180	Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
129	version.	181	version.
130		182
131	assert (("libev version mismatch",	183	assert (("libev version mismatch",
132	ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR	184	ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR
133	&& ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));	185	&& ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));
134		186
135	=item unsigned int ev_supported_backends ()	187	=item unsigned int ev_supported_backends ()
136		188
137	Return the set of all backends (i.e. their corresponding C<EV_BACKEND_*>	189	Return the set of all backends (i.e. their corresponding C<EV_BACKEND_*>
138	value) compiled into this binary of libev (independent of their	190	value) compiled into this binary of libev (independent of their
…		…
140	a description of the set values.	192	a description of the set values.
141		193
142	Example: make sure we have the epoll method, because yeah this is cool and	194	Example: make sure we have the epoll method, because yeah this is cool and
143	a must have and can we have a torrent of it please!!!11	195	a must have and can we have a torrent of it please!!!11
144		196
145	assert (("sorry, no epoll, no sex",	197	assert (("sorry, no epoll, no sex",
146	ev_supported_backends () & EVBACKEND_EPOLL));	198	ev_supported_backends () & EVBACKEND_EPOLL));
147		199
148	=item unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()	200	=item unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()
149		201
150	Return the set of all backends compiled into this binary of libev and also	202	Return the set of all backends compiled into this binary of libev and also
151	recommended for this platform. This set is often smaller than the one	203	recommended for this platform. This set is often smaller than the one
152	returned by C<ev_supported_backends>, as for example kqueue is broken on	204	returned by C<ev_supported_backends>, as for example kqueue is broken on
153	most BSDs and will not be autodetected unless you explicitly request it	205	most BSDs and will not be auto-detected unless you explicitly request it
154	(assuming you know what you are doing). This is the set of backends that	206	(assuming you know what you are doing). This is the set of backends that
155	libev will probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.	207	libev will probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.
156		208
157	=item unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()	209	=item unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()
158		210
…		…
162	C<ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for	214	C<ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for
163	recommended ones.	215	recommended ones.
164		216
165	See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.	217	See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
166		218
167	=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, size_t size))	219	=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))
168		220
169	Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype and semantics are	221	Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the
170	identical to the realloc C function). It is used to allocate and free	222	semantics are identical to the C<realloc> C89/SuS/POSIX function). It is
171	memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when memory needs to be	223	used to allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero
172	allocated, the library might abort or take some potentially destructive	224	when memory needs to be allocated (C<size != 0>), the library might abort
173	action. The default is your system realloc function.	225	or take some potentially destructive action.
		226
		227	Since some systems (at least OpenBSD and Darwin) fail to implement
		228	correct C<realloc> semantics, libev will use a wrapper around the system
		229	C<realloc> and C<free> functions by default.
174		230
175	You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,	231	You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,
176	free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,	232	free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,
177	or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.	233	or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.
178		234
179	Example: Replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then	235	Example: Replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then
180	retries).	236	retries (example requires a standards-compliant C<realloc>).
181		237
182	static void *	238	static void *
183	persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)	239	persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)
184	{	240	{
185	for (;;)	241	for (;;)
…		…
196	...	252	...
197	ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);	253	ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);
198		254
199	=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg));	255	=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg));
200		256
201	Set the callback function to call on a retryable syscall error (such	257	Set the callback function to call on a retryable system call error (such
202	as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string	258	as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string
203	indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this	259	indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this
204	callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no	260	callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the situation, no
205	matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the	261	matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the
206	requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff	262	requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff
207	(such as abort).	263	(such as abort).
208		264
209	Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.	265	Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.
…		…
223	=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP	279	=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP
224		280
225	An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *>. The library knows two	281	An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *>. The library knows two
226	types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which supports signals and child	282	types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which supports signals and child
227	events, and dynamically created loops which do not.	283	events, and dynamically created loops which do not.
228
229	If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop
230	in your main thread (or in a separate thread) and for each thread you
231	create, you also create another event loop. Libev itself does no locking
232	whatsoever, so if you mix calls to the same event loop in different
233	threads, make sure you lock (this is usually a bad idea, though, even if
234	done correctly, because it's hideous and inefficient).
235		284
236	=over 4	285	=over 4
237		286
238	=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)	287	=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)
239		288
…		…
243	flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards).	292	flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards).
244		293
245	If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this	294	If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this
246	function.	295	function.
247		296
		297	Note that this function is I<not> thread-safe, so if you want to use it
		298	from multiple threads, you have to lock (note also that this is unlikely,
		299	as loops cannot bes hared easily between threads anyway).
		300
		301	The default loop is the only loop that can handle C<ev_signal> and
		302	C<ev_child> watchers, and to do this, it always registers a handler
		303	for C<SIGCHLD>. If this is a problem for your application you can either
		304	create a dynamic loop with C<ev_loop_new> that doesn't do that, or you
		305	can simply overwrite the C<SIGCHLD> signal handler I<after> calling
		306	C<ev_default_init>.
		307
248	The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific	308	The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific
249	backends to use, and is usually specified as C<0> (or C<EVFLAG_AUTO>).	309	backends to use, and is usually specified as C<0> (or C<EVFLAG_AUTO>).
250		310
251	The following flags are supported:	311	The following flags are supported:
252		312
…		…
257	The default flags value. Use this if you have no clue (it's the right	317	The default flags value. Use this if you have no clue (it's the right
258	thing, believe me).	318	thing, believe me).
259		319
260	=item C<EVFLAG_NOENV>	320	=item C<EVFLAG_NOENV>
261		321
262	If this flag bit is ored into the flag value (or the program runs setuid	322	If this flag bit is or'ed into the flag value (or the program runs setuid
263	or setgid) then libev will I<not> look at the environment variable	323	or setgid) then libev will I<not> look at the environment variable
264	C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will	324	C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
265	override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is	325	override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is
266	useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work	326	useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work
267	around bugs.	327	around bugs.
268		328
		329	=item C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>
		330
		331	Instead of calling C<ev_default_fork> or C<ev_loop_fork> manually after
		332	a fork, you can also make libev check for a fork in each iteration by
		333	enabling this flag.
		334
		335	This works by calling C<getpid ()> on every iteration of the loop,
		336	and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop
		337	iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my
		338	GNU/Linux system for example, C<getpid> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence
		339	without a system call and thus I<very> fast, but my GNU/Linux system also has
		340	C<pthread_atfork> which is even faster).
		341
		342	The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and
		343	forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this
		344	flag.
		345
		346	This flag setting cannot be overridden or specified in the C<LIBEV_FLAGS>
		347	environment variable.
		348
269	=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)	349	=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)
270		350
271	This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as	351	This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as
272	libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,	352	libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,
273	but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when	353	but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when
274	using this backend. It doesn't scale too well (O(highest_fd)), but its usually	354	using this backend. It doesn't scale too well (O(highest_fd)), but its
275	the fastest backend for a low number of fds.	355	usually the fastest backend for a low number of (low-numbered :) fds.
		356
		357	To get good performance out of this backend you need a high amount of
		358	parallelism (most of the file descriptors should be busy). If you are
		359	writing a server, you should C<accept ()> in a loop to accept as many
		360	connections as possible during one iteration. You might also want to have
		361	a look at C<ev_set_io_collect_interval ()> to increase the amount of
		362	readiness notifications you get per iteration.
276		363
277	=item C<EVBACKEND_POLL> (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)	364	=item C<EVBACKEND_POLL> (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)
278		365
279	And this is your standard poll(2) backend. It's more complicated than	366	And this is your standard poll(2) backend. It's more complicated
280	select, but handles sparse fds better and has no artificial limit on the	367	than select, but handles sparse fds better and has no artificial
281	number of fds you can use (except it will slow down considerably with a	368	limit on the number of fds you can use (except it will slow down
282	lot of inactive fds). It scales similarly to select, i.e. O(total_fds).	369	considerably with a lot of inactive fds). It scales similarly to select,
		370	i.e. O(total_fds). See the entry for C<EVBACKEND_SELECT>, above, for
		371	performance tips.
283		372
284	=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)	373	=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)
285		374
286	For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,	375	For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,
287	but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale like	376	but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale
288	O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd), epoll scales	377	like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd),
289	either O(1) or O(active_fds).	378	epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds). The epoll design has a number
		379	of shortcomings, such as silently dropping events in some hard-to-detect
		380	cases and requiring a system call per fd change, no fork support and bad
		381	support for dup.
290		382
291	While stopping and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration will	383	While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration
292	result in some caching, there is still a syscall per such incident	384	will result in some caching, there is still a system call per such incident
293	(because the fd could point to a different file description now), so its	385	(because the fd could point to a different file description now), so its
294	best to avoid that. Also, dup()ed file descriptors might not work very	386	best to avoid that. Also, C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors might not work
295	well if you register events for both fds.	387	very well if you register events for both fds.
296		388
297	Please note that epoll sometimes generates spurious notifications, so you	389	Please note that epoll sometimes generates spurious notifications, so you
298	need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid blocking when no data	390	need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid blocking when no data
299	(or space) is available.	391	(or space) is available.
300		392
		393	Best performance from this backend is achieved by not unregistering all
		394	watchers for a file descriptor until it has been closed, if possible, i.e.
		395	keep at least one watcher active per fd at all times.
		396
		397	While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this feature is broken in
		398	all kernel versions tested so far.
		399
301	=item C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE> (value 8, most BSD clones)	400	=item C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE> (value 8, most BSD clones)
302		401
303	Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it	402	Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it
304	was broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work with	403	was broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work reliably
305	anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course its	404	with anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course
306	completely useless). For this reason its not being "autodetected"	405	it's completely useless). For this reason it's not being "auto-detected"
307	unless you explicitly specify it explicitly in the flags (i.e. using	406	unless you explicitly specify it explicitly in the flags (i.e. using
308	C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>).	407	C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>) or libev was compiled on a known-to-be-good (-enough)
		408	system like NetBSD.
		409
		410	You still can embed kqueue into a normal poll or select backend and use it
		411	only for sockets (after having made sure that sockets work with kqueue on
		412	the target platform). See C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
309		413
310	It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the	414	It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the
311	kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of	415	kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of
312	course). While starting and stopping an I/O watcher does not cause an	416	course). While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher does never
313	extra syscall as with epoll, it still adds up to four event changes per	417	cause an extra system call as with C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL>, it still adds up to
314	incident, so its best to avoid that.	418	two event changes per incident, support for C<fork ()> is very bad and it
		419	drops fds silently in similarly hard-to-detect cases.
		420
		421	This backend usually performs well under most conditions.
		422
		423	While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this doesn't work
		424	everywhere, so you might need to test for this. And since it is broken
		425	almost everywhere, you should only use it when you have a lot of sockets
		426	(for which it usually works), by embedding it into another event loop
		427	(e.g. C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>) and using it only for
		428	sockets.
315		429
316	=item C<EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL> (value 16, Solaris 8)	430	=item C<EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL> (value 16, Solaris 8)
317		431
318	This is not implemented yet (and might never be).	432	This is not implemented yet (and might never be, unless you send me an
		433	implementation). According to reports, C</dev/poll> only supports sockets
		434	and is not embeddable, which would limit the usefulness of this backend
		435	immensely.
319		436
320	=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)	437	=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)
321		438
322	This uses the Solaris 10 port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,	439	This uses the Solaris 10 event port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,
323	it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).	440	it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).
324		441
325	Please note that solaris ports can result in a lot of spurious	442	Please note that Solaris event ports can deliver a lot of spurious
326	notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid	443	notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid
327	blocking when no data (or space) is available.	444	blocking when no data (or space) is available.
		445
		446	While this backend scales well, it requires one system call per active
		447	file descriptor per loop iteration. For small and medium numbers of file
		448	descriptors a "slow" C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL> backend
		449	might perform better.
		450
		451	On the positive side, ignoring the spurious readiness notifications, this
		452	backend actually performed to specification in all tests and is fully
		453	embeddable, which is a rare feat among the OS-specific backends.
328		454
329	=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>	455	=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>
330		456
331	Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried	457	Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried
332	with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as	458	with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as
333	C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.	459	C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.
334		460
		461	It is definitely not recommended to use this flag.
		462
335	=back	463	=back
336		464
337	If one or more of these are ored into the flags value, then only these	465	If one or more of these are or'ed into the flags value, then only these
338	backends will be tried (in the reverse order as given here). If none are	466	backends will be tried (in the reverse order as listed here). If none are
339	specified, most compiled-in backend will be tried, usually in reverse	467	specified, all backends in C<ev_recommended_backends ()> will be tried.
340	order of their flag values :)
341		468
342	The most typical usage is like this:	469	The most typical usage is like this:
343		470
344	if (!ev_default_loop (0))	471	if (!ev_default_loop (0))
345	fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");	472	fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");
346		473
347	Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow	474	Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow
348	environment settings to be taken into account:	475	environment settings to be taken into account:
349		476
350	ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);	477	ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);
351		478
352	Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is used if	479	Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is used if
353	available (warning, breaks stuff, best use only with your own private	480	available (warning, breaks stuff, best use only with your own private
354	event loop and only if you know the OS supports your types of fds):	481	event loop and only if you know the OS supports your types of fds):
355		482
356	ev_default_loop (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);	483	ev_default_loop (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);
357		484
358	=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)	485	=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)
359		486
360	Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is	487	Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is
361	always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot	488	always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot
362	handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by	489	handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
363	undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).	490	undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).
364		491
		492	Note that this function I<is> thread-safe, and the recommended way to use
		493	libev with threads is indeed to create one loop per thread, and using the
		494	default loop in the "main" or "initial" thread.
		495
365	Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.	496	Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.
366		497
367	struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);	498	struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
368	if (!epoller)	499	if (!epoller)
369	fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");	500	fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");
370		501
371	=item ev_default_destroy ()	502	=item ev_default_destroy ()
372		503
373	Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state	504	Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state
374	etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal	505	etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal
375	sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your	506	sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your
376	responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yoursef I<before>	507	responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yourself I<before>
377	calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually	508	calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually
378	the easiest thing, youc na just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them	509	the easiest thing, you can just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them
379	for example).	510	for example).
		511
		512	Note that certain global state, such as signal state, will not be freed by
		513	this function, and related watchers (such as signal and child watchers)
		514	would need to be stopped manually.
		515
		516	In general it is not advisable to call this function except in the
		517	rare occasion where you really need to free e.g. the signal handling
		518	pipe fds. If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use
		519	C<ev_loop_new> and C<ev_loop_destroy>).
380		520
381	=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)	521	=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)
382		522
383	Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an	523	Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an
384	earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>.	524	earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>.
385		525
386	=item ev_default_fork ()	526	=item ev_default_fork ()
387		527
		528	This function sets a flag that causes subsequent C<ev_loop> iterations
388	This function reinitialises the kernel state for backends that have	529	to reinitialise the kernel state for backends that have one. Despite the
389	one. Despite the name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense	530	name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense after forking, in
390	after forking, in either the parent or child process (or both, but that	531	the child process (or both child and parent, but that again makes little
391	again makes little sense).	532	sense). You I<must> call it in the child before using any of the libev
		533	functions, and it will only take effect at the next C<ev_loop> iteration.
392		534
393	You I<must> call this function in the child process after forking if and	535	On the other hand, you only need to call this function in the child
394	only if you want to use the event library in both processes. If you just	536	process if and only if you want to use the event library in the child. If
395	fork+exec, you don't have to call it.	537	you just fork+exec, you don't have to call it at all.
396		538
397	The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call	539	The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call
398	it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in	540	it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in
399	quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>:	541	quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>:
400		542
401	pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork);	543	pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork);
402		544
403	At the moment, C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and C<EVBACKEND_POLL> are safe to use
404	without calling this function, so if you force one of those backends you
405	do not need to care.
406
407	=item ev_loop_fork (loop)	545	=item ev_loop_fork (loop)
408		546
409	Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by	547	Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by
410	C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop	548	C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
411	after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.	549	after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.
		550
		551	=item int ev_is_default_loop (loop)
		552
		553	Returns true when the given loop actually is the default loop, false otherwise.
		554
		555	=item unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)
		556
		557	Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to
		558	the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at C<0> and
		559	happily wraps around with enough iterations.
		560
		561	This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it
		562	"ticks" the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with
		563	C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> calls.
412		564
413	=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)	565	=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)
414		566
415	Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in	567	Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in
416	use.	568	use.
…		…
419		571
420	Returns the current "event loop time", which is the time the event loop	572	Returns the current "event loop time", which is the time the event loop
421	received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not	573	received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not
422	change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base	574	change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base
423	time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the	575	time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the
424	event occuring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).	576	event occurring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).
425		577
426	=item ev_loop (loop, int flags)	578	=item ev_loop (loop, int flags)
427		579
428	Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called	580	Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called
429	after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling	581	after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling
…		…
441	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle	593	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle
442	those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in	594	those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in
443	case there are no events and will return after one iteration of the loop.	595	case there are no events and will return after one iteration of the loop.
444		596
445	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if	597	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if
446	neccessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block	598	necessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block
447	your process until at least one new event arrives, and will return after	599	your process until at least one new event arrives, and will return after
448	one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some	600	one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some
449	external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other	601	external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other
450	libev watchers. However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is	602	libev watchers. However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is
451	usually a better approach for this kind of thing.	603	usually a better approach for this kind of thing.
452		604
453	Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does:	605	Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does:
454		606
455	* If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return.	607	- Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
456	- Queue prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers.	608	* If EVFLAG_FORKCHECK was used, check for a fork.
		609	- If a fork was detected, queue and call all fork watchers.
		610	- Queue and call all prepare watchers.
457	- If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.	611	- If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.
458	- Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.	612	- Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
459	- Update the "event loop time".	613	- Update the "event loop time".
460	- Calculate for how long to block.	614	- Calculate for how long to sleep or block, if at all
		615	(active idle watchers, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK or not having
		616	any active watchers at all will result in not sleeping).
		617	- Sleep if the I/O and timer collect interval say so.
461	- Block the process, waiting for any events.	618	- Block the process, waiting for any events.
462	- Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.	619	- Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.
463	- Update the "event loop time" and do time jump handling.	620	- Update the "event loop time" and do time jump handling.
464	- Queue all outstanding timers.	621	- Queue all outstanding timers.
465	- Queue all outstanding periodics.	622	- Queue all outstanding periodics.
466	- If no events are pending now, queue all idle watchers.	623	- If no events are pending now, queue all idle watchers.
467	- Queue all check watchers.	624	- Queue all check watchers.
468	- Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).	625	- Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).
469	Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will	626	Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will
470	be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.	627	be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
471	- If ev_unloop has been called or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK	628	- If ev_unloop has been called, or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK
472	were used, return, otherwise continue with step *.	629	were used, or there are no active watchers, return, otherwise
		630	continue with step *.
473		631
474	Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding	632	Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outstanding
475	anymore.	633	anymore.
476		634
477	... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long	635	... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
478	... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)	636	... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
479	ev_loop (my_loop, 0);	637	ev_loop (my_loop, 0);
…		…
483		641
484	Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early (but only after it	642	Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early (but only after it
485	has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either	643	has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either
486	C<EVUNLOOP_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_loop> call return, or	644	C<EVUNLOOP_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_loop> call return, or
487	C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> calls return.	645	C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> calls return.
		646
		647	This "unloop state" will be cleared when entering C<ev_loop> again.
488		648
489	=item ev_ref (loop)	649	=item ev_ref (loop)
490		650
491	=item ev_unref (loop)	651	=item ev_unref (loop)
492		652
…		…
497	returning, ev_unref() after starting, and ev_ref() before stopping it. For	657	returning, ev_unref() after starting, and ev_ref() before stopping it. For
498	example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not	658	example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not
499	visible to the libev user and should not keep C<ev_loop> from exiting if	659	visible to the libev user and should not keep C<ev_loop> from exiting if
500	no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent	660	no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent
501	way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party	661	way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party
502	libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref before stop>.	662	libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref before stop>
		663	(but only if the watcher wasn't active before, or was active before,
		664	respectively).
503		665
504	Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_loop>	666	Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_loop>
505	running when nothing else is active.	667	running when nothing else is active.
506		668
507	struct ev_signal exitsig;	669	struct ev_signal exitsig;
508	ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);	670	ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
509	ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);	671	ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);
510	evf_unref (loop);	672	evf_unref (loop);
511		673
512	Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.	674	Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.
513		675
514	ev_ref (loop);	676	ev_ref (loop);
515	ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);	677	ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);
		678
		679	=item ev_set_io_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
		680
		681	=item ev_set_timeout_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
		682
		683	These advanced functions influence the time that libev will spend waiting
		684	for events. Both are by default C<0>, meaning that libev will try to
		685	invoke timer/periodic callbacks and I/O callbacks with minimum latency.
		686
		687	Setting these to a higher value (the C<interval> I<must> be >= C<0>)
		688	allows libev to delay invocation of I/O and timer/periodic callbacks to
		689	increase efficiency of loop iterations.
		690
		691	The background is that sometimes your program runs just fast enough to
		692	handle one (or very few) event(s) per loop iteration. While this makes
		693	the program responsive, it also wastes a lot of CPU time to poll for new
		694	events, especially with backends like C<select ()> which have a high
		695	overhead for the actual polling but can deliver many events at once.
		696
		697	By setting a higher I<io collect interval> you allow libev to spend more
		698	time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration,
		699	at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both C<ev_periodic> and
		700	C<ev_timer>) will be not affected. Setting this to a non-null value will
		701	introduce an additional C<ev_sleep ()> call into most loop iterations.
		702
		703	Likewise, by setting a higher I<timeout collect interval> you allow libev
		704	to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased
		705	latency (the watcher callback will be called later). C<ev_io> watchers
		706	will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null value will not introduce
		707	any overhead in libev.
		708
		709	Many (busy) programs can usually benefit by setting the I/O collect
		710	interval to a value near C<0.1> or so, which is often enough for
		711	interactive servers (of course not for games), likewise for timeouts. It
		712	usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than C<0.01>,
		713	as this approaches the timing granularity of most systems.
		714
		715	=item ev_loop_verify (loop)
		716
		717	This function only does something when C<EV_VERIFY> support has been
		718	compiled in. It tries to go through all internal structures and checks
		719	them for validity. If anything is found to be inconsistent, it will print
		720	an error message to standard error and call C<abort ()>.
		721
		722	This can be used to catch bugs inside libev itself: under normal
		723	circumstances, this function will never abort as of course libev keeps its
		724	data structures consistent.
516		725
517	=back	726	=back
518		727
519		728
520	=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER	729	=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER
521		730
522	A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your	731	A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your
523	interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to	732	interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to
524	become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher for that:	733	become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher for that:
525		734
526	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)	735	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
527	{	736	{
528	ev_io_stop (w);	737	ev_io_stop (w);
529	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);	738	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
530	}	739	}
531		740
532	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);	741	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
533	struct ev_io stdin_watcher;	742	struct ev_io stdin_watcher;
534	ev_init (&stdin_watcher, my_cb);	743	ev_init (&stdin_watcher, my_cb);
535	ev_io_set (&stdin_watcher, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);	744	ev_io_set (&stdin_watcher, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
536	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);	745	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
537	ev_loop (loop, 0);	746	ev_loop (loop, 0);
538		747
539	As you can see, you are responsible for allocating the memory for your	748	As you can see, you are responsible for allocating the memory for your
540	watcher structures (and it is usually a bad idea to do this on the stack,	749	watcher structures (and it is usually a bad idea to do this on the stack,
541	although this can sometimes be quite valid).	750	although this can sometimes be quite valid).
542		751
543	Each watcher structure must be initialised by a call to C<ev_init	752	Each watcher structure must be initialised by a call to C<ev_init
544	(watcher *, callback)>, which expects a callback to be provided. This	753	(watcher *, callback)>, which expects a callback to be provided. This
545	callback gets invoked each time the event occurs (or, in the case of io	754	callback gets invoked each time the event occurs (or, in the case of I/O
546	watchers, each time the event loop detects that the file descriptor given	755	watchers, each time the event loop detects that the file descriptor given
547	is readable and/or writable).	756	is readable and/or writable).
548		757
549	Each watcher type has its own C<< ev_<type>_set (watcher *, ...) >> macro	758	Each watcher type has its own C<< ev_<type>_set (watcher *, ...) >> macro
550	with arguments specific to this watcher type. There is also a macro	759	with arguments specific to this watcher type. There is also a macro
…		…
620	=item C<EV_FORK>	829	=item C<EV_FORK>
621		830
622	The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see	831	The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
623	C<ev_fork>).	832	C<ev_fork>).
624		833
		834	=item C<EV_ASYNC>
		835
		836	The given async watcher has been asynchronously notified (see C<ev_async>).
		837
625	=item C<EV_ERROR>	838	=item C<EV_ERROR>
626		839
627	An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might	840	An unspecified error has occurred, the watcher has been stopped. This might
628	happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev	841	happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev
629	ran out of memory, a file descriptor was found to be closed or any other	842	ran out of memory, a file descriptor was found to be closed or any other
630	problem. You best act on it by reporting the problem and somehow coping	843	problem. You best act on it by reporting the problem and somehow coping
631	with the watcher being stopped.	844	with the watcher being stopped.
632		845
633	Libev will usually signal a few "dummy" events together with an error,	846	Libev will usually signal a few "dummy" events together with an error,
634	for example it might indicate that a fd is readable or writable, and if	847	for example it might indicate that a fd is readable or writable, and if
635	your callbacks is well-written it can just attempt the operation and cope	848	your callbacks is well-written it can just attempt the operation and cope
636	with the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multithreaded	849	with the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multi-threaded
637	programs, though, so beware.	850	programs, though, so beware.
638		851
639	=back	852	=back
640		853
641	=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS	854	=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS
…		…
671	Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments	884	Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments
672	(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.	885	(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.
673		886
674	=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])	887	=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])
675		888
676	This convinience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro	889	This convenience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro
677	calls into a single call. This is the most convinient method to initialise	890	calls into a single call. This is the most convenient method to initialise
678	a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.	891	a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.
679		892
680	=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)	893	=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)
681		894
682	Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive	895	Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive
…		…
700	=item bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)	913	=item bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)
701		914
702	Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding	915	Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding
703	events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher	916	events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher
704	is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but	917	is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but
705	C<ev_TYPE_set> is safe) and you must make sure the watcher is available to	918	C<ev_TYPE_set> is safe), you must not change its priority, and you must
706	libev (e.g. you cnanot C<free ()> it).	919	make sure the watcher is available to libev (e.g. you cannot C<free ()>
		920	it).
707		921
708	=item callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)	922	=item callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)
709		923
710	Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.	924	Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.
711		925
712	=item ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)	926	=item ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
713		927
714	Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time	928	Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
715	(modulo threads).	929	(modulo threads).
		930
		931	=item ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, priority)
		932
		933	=item int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)
		934
		935	Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small
		936	integer between C<EV_MAXPRI> (default: C<2>) and C<EV_MINPRI>
		937	(default: C<-2>). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked
		938	before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers
		939	from being executed (except for C<ev_idle> watchers).
		940
		941	This means that priorities are I<only> used for ordering callback
		942	invocation after new events have been received. This is useful, for
		943	example, to reduce latency after idling, or more often, to bind two
		944	watchers on the same event and make sure one is called first.
		945
		946	If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending
		947	you need to look at C<ev_idle> watchers, which provide this functionality.
		948
		949	You I<must not> change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or
		950	pending.
		951
		952	The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
		953	always C<0>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).
		954
		955	Setting a priority outside the range of C<EV_MINPRI> to C<EV_MAXPRI> is
		956	fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might
		957	or might not have been adjusted to be within valid range.
		958
		959	=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
		960
		961	Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither
		962	C<loop> nor C<revents> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
		963	can deal with that fact.
		964
		965	=item int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
		966
		967	If the watcher is pending, this function returns clears its pending status
		968	and returns its C<revents> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
		969	watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>.
716		970
717	=back	971	=back
718		972
719		973
720	=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER	974	=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER
…		…
724	to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and	978	to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
725	don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data	979	don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data
726	member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own	980	member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own
727	data:	981	data:
728		982
729	struct my_io	983	struct my_io
730	{	984	{
731	struct ev_io io;	985	struct ev_io io;
732	int otherfd;	986	int otherfd;
733	void *somedata;	987	void *somedata;
734	struct whatever *mostinteresting;	988	struct whatever *mostinteresting;
735	}	989	}
736		990
737	And since your callback will be called with a pointer to the watcher, you	991	And since your callback will be called with a pointer to the watcher, you
738	can cast it back to your own type:	992	can cast it back to your own type:
739		993
740	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w_, int revents)	994	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w_, int revents)
741	{	995	{
742	struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;	996	struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
743	...	997	...
744	}	998	}
745		999
746	More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type	1000	More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type
747	instead have been omitted.	1001	instead have been omitted.
748		1002
749	Another common scenario is having some data structure with multiple	1003	Another common scenario is having some data structure with multiple
750	watchers:	1004	watchers:
751		1005
752	struct my_biggy	1006	struct my_biggy
753	{	1007	{
754	int some_data;	1008	int some_data;
755	ev_timer t1;	1009	ev_timer t1;
756	ev_timer t2;	1010	ev_timer t2;
757	}	1011	}
758		1012
759	In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more complicated,	1013	In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more complicated,
760	you need to use C<offsetof>:	1014	you need to use C<offsetof>:
761		1015
762	#include <stddef.h>	1016	#include <stddef.h>
763		1017
764	static void	1018	static void
765	t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	1019	t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
766	{	1020	{
767	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *	1021	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
768	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));	1022	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
769	}	1023	}
770		1024
771	static void	1025	static void
772	t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	1026	t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
773	{	1027	{
774	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *	1028	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
775	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));	1029	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
776	}	1030	}
777		1031
778		1032
779	=head1 WATCHER TYPES	1033	=head1 WATCHER TYPES
780		1034
781	This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat	1035	This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat
…		…
805	In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per	1059	In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per
806	fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file	1060	fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file
807	descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not	1061	descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
808	required if you know what you are doing).	1062	required if you know what you are doing).
809		1063
810	You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends
811	(the linux epoll backend is a notable example) cannot handle dup'ed file
812	descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing
813	to the same underlying file/socket/etc. description (that is, they share
814	the same underlying "file open").
815
816	If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend	1064	If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend
817	(at the time of this writing, this includes only C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and	1065	(at the time of this writing, this includes only C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and
818	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>).	1066	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>).
819		1067
820	Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to	1068	Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
821	receive "spurious" readyness notifications, that is your callback might	1069	receive "spurious" readiness notifications, that is your callback might
822	be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block	1070	be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block
823	because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a	1071	because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a
824	lot of those (for example solaris ports), it is very easy to get into	1072	lot of those (for example Solaris ports), it is very easy to get into
825	this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus	1073	this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus
826	it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning	1074	it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning
827	C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.	1075	C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.
828		1076
829	If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not	1077	If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not
830	play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test	1078	play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to separately re-test
831	wether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface	1079	whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
832	such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on	1080	such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on
833	its own, so its quite safe to use).	1081	its own, so its quite safe to use).
834		1082
		1083	=head3 The special problem of disappearing file descriptors
		1084
		1085	Some backends (e.g. kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file
		1086	descriptor (either by calling C<close> explicitly or by any other means,
		1087	such as C<dup>). The reason is that you register interest in some file
		1088	descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop
		1089	this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is
		1090	registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in
		1091	fact, a different file descriptor.
		1092
		1093	To avoid having to explicitly tell libev about such cases, libev follows
		1094	the following policy: Each time C<ev_io_set> is being called, libev
		1095	will assume that this is potentially a new file descriptor, otherwise
		1096	it is assumed that the file descriptor stays the same. That means that
		1097	you I<have> to call C<ev_io_set> (or C<ev_io_init>) when you change the
		1098	descriptor even if the file descriptor number itself did not change.
		1099
		1100	This is how one would do it normally anyway, the important point is that
		1101	the libev application should not optimise around libev but should leave
		1102	optimisations to libev.
		1103
		1104	=head3 The special problem of dup'ed file descriptors
		1105
		1106	Some backends (e.g. epoll), cannot register events for file descriptors,
		1107	but only events for the underlying file descriptions. That means when you
		1108	have C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors or weirder constellations, and register
		1109	events for them, only one file descriptor might actually receive events.
		1110
		1111	There is no workaround possible except not registering events
		1112	for potentially C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors, or to resort to
		1113	C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
		1114
		1115	=head3 The special problem of fork
		1116
		1117	Some backends (epoll, kqueue) do not support C<fork ()> at all or exhibit
		1118	useless behaviour. Libev fully supports fork, but needs to be told about
		1119	it in the child.
		1120
		1121	To support fork in your programs, you either have to call
		1122	C<ev_default_fork ()> or C<ev_loop_fork ()> after a fork in the child,
		1123	enable C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>, or resort to C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or
		1124	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
		1125
		1126	=head3 The special problem of SIGPIPE
		1127
		1128	While not really specific to libev, it is easy to forget about SIGPIPE:
		1129	when reading from a pipe whose other end has been closed, your program
		1130	gets send a SIGPIPE, which, by default, aborts your program. For most
		1131	programs this is sensible behaviour, for daemons, this is usually
		1132	undesirable.
		1133
		1134	So when you encounter spurious, unexplained daemon exits, make sure you
		1135	ignore SIGPIPE (and maybe make sure you log the exit status of your daemon
		1136	somewhere, as that would have given you a big clue).
		1137
		1138
		1139	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions
		1140
835	=over 4	1141	=over 4
836		1142
837	=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)	1143	=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)
838		1144
839	=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)	1145	=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)
840		1146
841	Configures an C<ev_io> watcher. The C<fd> is the file descriptor to	1147	Configures an C<ev_io> watcher. The C<fd> is the file descriptor to
842	rceeive events for and events is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or	1148	receive events for and events is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or
843	C<EV_READ | EV_WRITE> to receive the given events.	1149	C<EV_READ | EV_WRITE> to receive the given events.
844		1150
845	=item int fd [read-only]	1151	=item int fd [read-only]
846		1152
847	The file descriptor being watched.	1153	The file descriptor being watched.
…		…
849	=item int events [read-only]	1155	=item int events [read-only]
850		1156
851	The events being watched.	1157	The events being watched.
852		1158
853	=back	1159	=back
		1160
		1161	=head3 Examples
854		1162
855	Example: Call C<stdin_readable_cb> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well	1163	Example: Call C<stdin_readable_cb> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well
856	readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could	1164	readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could
857	attempt to read a whole line in the callback.	1165	attempt to read a whole line in the callback.
858		1166
859	static void	1167	static void
860	stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)	1168	stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
861	{	1169	{
862	ev_io_stop (loop, w);	1170	ev_io_stop (loop, w);
863	.. read from stdin here (or from w->fd) and haqndle any I/O errors	1171	.. read from stdin here (or from w->fd) and haqndle any I/O errors
864	}	1172	}
865		1173
866	...	1174	...
867	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);	1175	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
868	struct ev_io stdin_readable;	1176	struct ev_io stdin_readable;
869	ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);	1177	ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
870	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);	1178	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);
871	ev_loop (loop, 0);	1179	ev_loop (loop, 0);
872		1180
873		1181
874	=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts	1182	=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts
875		1183
876	Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a	1184	Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a
877	given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.	1185	given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.
878		1186
879	The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that	1187	The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that
880	times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to last years	1188	times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to January last
881	time, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. "Roughly" because	1189	year, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. "Roughly" because
882	detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the	1190	detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the
883	monotonic clock option helps a lot here).	1191	monotonic clock option helps a lot here).
884		1192
885	The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>	1193	The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>
886	time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time	1194	time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time
…		…
888	you suspect event processing to be delayed and you I<need> to base the timeout	1196	you suspect event processing to be delayed and you I<need> to base the timeout
889	on the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:	1197	on the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:
890		1198
891	ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);	1199	ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);
892		1200
893	The callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when its timeout has passed,	1201	The callback is guaranteed to be invoked only after its timeout has passed,
894	but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then	1202	but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then
895	order of execution is undefined.	1203	order of execution is undefined.
896		1204
		1205	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		1206
897	=over 4	1207	=over 4
898		1208
899	=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)	1209	=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)
900		1210
901	=item ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)	1211	=item ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)
902		1212
903	Configure the timer to trigger after C<after> seconds. If C<repeat> is	1213	Configure the timer to trigger after C<after> seconds. If C<repeat>
904	C<0.>, then it will automatically be stopped. If it is positive, then the	1214	is C<0.>, then it will automatically be stopped once the timeout is
905	timer will automatically be configured to trigger again C<repeat> seconds	1215	reached. If it is positive, then the timer will automatically be
906	later, again, and again, until stopped manually.	1216	configured to trigger again C<repeat> seconds later, again, and again,
		1217	until stopped manually.
907		1218
908	The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if you	1219	The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if
909	configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will trigger at	1220	you configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will normally
910	exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot keep up with	1221	trigger at exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot
911	the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to do stuff) the	1222	keep up with the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to
912	timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.	1223	do stuff) the timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.
913		1224
914	=item ev_timer_again (loop)	1225	=item ev_timer_again (loop, ev_timer *)
915		1226
916	This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is	1227	This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
917	repeating. The exact semantics are:	1228	repeating. The exact semantics are:
918		1229
		1230	If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.
		1231
919	If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it.	1232	If the timer is started but non-repeating, stop it (as if it timed out).
920		1233
921	If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the repeat	1234	If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the
922	value), or reset the running timer to the repeat value.	1235	C<repeat> value), or reset the running timer to the C<repeat> value.
923		1236
924	This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical	1237	This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical
925	example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called	1238	example: Imagine you have a TCP connection and you want a so-called idle
926	idle timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been,	1239	timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60
927	say, 60 seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do	1240	seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to
928	this is to configure an C<ev_timer> with C<after>=C<repeat>=C<60> and calling	1241	configure an C<ev_timer> with a C<repeat> value of C<60> and then call
929	C<ev_timer_again> each time you successfully read or write some data. If	1242	C<ev_timer_again> each time you successfully read or write some data. If
930	you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the	1243	you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the
931	socket, you can stop the timer, and again will automatically restart it if	1244	socket, you can C<ev_timer_stop> the timer, and C<ev_timer_again> will
932	need be.	1245	automatically restart it if need be.
933		1246
934	You can also ignore the C<after> value and C<ev_timer_start> altogether	1247	That means you can ignore the C<after> value and C<ev_timer_start>
935	and only ever use the C<repeat> value:	1248	altogether and only ever use the C<repeat> value and C<ev_timer_again>:
936		1249
937	ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);	1250	ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);
938	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);	1251	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
939	...	1252	...
940	timer->again = 17.;	1253	timer->again = 17.;
941	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);	1254	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
942	...	1255	...
943	timer->again = 10.;	1256	timer->again = 10.;
944	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);	1257	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
945		1258
946	This is more efficient then stopping/starting the timer eahc time you want	1259	This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time
947	to modify its timeout value.	1260	you want to modify its timeout value.
948		1261
949	=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]	1262	=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]
950		1263
951	The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out	1264	The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
952	or C<ev_timer_again> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),	1265	or C<ev_timer_again> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),
953	which is also when any modifications are taken into account.	1266	which is also when any modifications are taken into account.
954		1267
955	=back	1268	=back
956		1269
		1270	=head3 Examples
		1271
957	Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.	1272	Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.
958		1273
959	static void	1274	static void
960	one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	1275	one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
961	{	1276	{
962	.. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here	1277	.. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here
963	}	1278	}
964		1279
965	struct ev_timer mytimer;	1280	struct ev_timer mytimer;
966	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);	1281	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);
967	ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);	1282	ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);
968		1283
969	Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of	1284	Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
970	inactivity.	1285	inactivity.
971		1286
972	static void	1287	static void
973	timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	1288	timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
974	{	1289	{
975	.. ten seconds without any activity	1290	.. ten seconds without any activity
976	}	1291	}
977		1292
978	struct ev_timer mytimer;	1293	struct ev_timer mytimer;
979	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */	1294	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */
980	ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */	1295	ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */
981	ev_loop (loop, 0);	1296	ev_loop (loop, 0);
982		1297
983	// and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":	1298	// and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":
984	// reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds	1299	// reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds
985	ev_timer_again (&mytimer);	1300	ev_timer_again (&mytimer);
986		1301
987		1302
988	=head2 C<ev_periodic> - to cron or not to cron?	1303	=head2 C<ev_periodic> - to cron or not to cron?
989		1304
990	Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile	1305	Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile
991	(and unfortunately a bit complex).	1306	(and unfortunately a bit complex).
992		1307
993	Unlike C<ev_timer>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time)	1308	Unlike C<ev_timer>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time)
994	but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher	1309	but on wall clock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher
995	to trigger "at" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a	1310	to trigger after some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a
996	periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. C<ev_now ()	1311	periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifying e.g. C<ev_now ()
997	+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will	1312	+ 10.>, that is, an absolute time not a delay) and then reset your system
		1313	clock to January of the previous year, then it will take more than year
998	take a year to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would trigger	1314	to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would still trigger
999	roughly 10 seconds later and of course not if you reset your system time	1315	roughly 10 seconds later as it uses a relative timeout).
1000	again).
1001		1316
1002	They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as	1317	C<ev_periodic>s can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers,
1003	triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time.	1318	such as triggering an event on each "midnight, local time", or other
		1319	complicated, rules.
1004		1320
1005	As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the	1321	As with timers, the callback is guaranteed to be invoked only when the
1006	time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready	1322	time (C<at>) has passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
1007	during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.	1323	during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.
		1324
		1325	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1008		1326
1009	=over 4	1327	=over 4
1010		1328
1011	=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)	1329	=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)
1012		1330
…		…
1015	Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of	1333	Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of
1016	operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:	1334	operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:
1017		1335
1018	=over 4	1336	=over 4
1019		1337
1020	=item * absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0)	1338	=item * absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)
1021		1339
1022	In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time	1340	In this configuration the watcher triggers an event after the wall clock
1023	C<at> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs,	1341	time C<at> has passed and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time
1024	that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the	1342	jump occurs, that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will
1025	system time reaches or surpasses this time.	1343	run when the system time reaches or surpasses this time.
1026		1344
1027	=item * non-repeating interval timer (interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)	1345	=item * repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)
1028		1346
1029	In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next	1347	In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next
1030	C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N) and then repeat, regardless	1348	C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)
1031	of any time jumps.	1349	and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps.
1032		1350
1033	This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system	1351	This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system
1034	time:	1352	time, for example, here is a C<ev_periodic> that triggers each hour, on
		1353	the hour:
1035		1354
1036	ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);	1355	ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);
1037		1356
1038	This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers,	1357	This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers,
1039	but only that the the callback will be called when the system time shows a	1358	but only that the callback will be called when the system time shows a
1040	full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible	1359	full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible
1041	by 3600.	1360	by 3600.
1042		1361
1043	Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that	1362	Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
1044	C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible	1363	C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
1045	time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.	1364	time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.
1046		1365
		1366	For numerical stability it is preferable that the C<at> value is near
		1367	C<ev_now ()> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
		1368	this value, and in fact is often specified as zero.
		1369
		1370	Note also that there is an upper limit to how often a timer can fire (CPU
		1371	speed for example), so if C<interval> is very small then timing stability
		1372	will of course deteriorate. Libev itself tries to be exact to be about one
		1373	millisecond (if the OS supports it and the machine is fast enough).
		1374
1047	=item * manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback)	1375	=item * manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)
1048		1376
1049	In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being	1377	In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being
1050	ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the	1378	ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
1051	reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the	1379	reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
1052	current time as second argument.	1380	current time as second argument.
1053		1381
1054	NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,	1382	NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,
1055	ever, or make any event loop modifications>. If you need to stop it,	1383	ever, or make ANY event loop modifications whatsoever>.
1056	return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
1057	starting a prepare watcher).
1058		1384
		1385	If you need to stop it, return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop
		1386	it afterwards (e.g. by starting an C<ev_prepare> watcher, which is the
		1387	only event loop modification you are allowed to do).
		1388
1059	Its prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,	1389	The callback prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic
1060	ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:	1390	*w, ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:
1061		1391
1062	static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)	1392	static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1063	{	1393	{
1064	return now + 60.;	1394	return now + 60.;
1065	}	1395	}
…		…
1067	It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value	1397	It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value
1068	(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It	1398	(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It
1069	will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but	1399	will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but
1070	might be called at other times, too.	1400	might be called at other times, too.
1071		1401
1072	NOTE: I<< This callback must always return a time that is later than the	1402	NOTE: I<< This callback must always return a time that is higher than or
1073	passed C<now> value >>. Not even C<now> itself will do, it I<must> be larger.	1403	equal to the passed C<now> value >>.
1074		1404
1075	This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that	1405	This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that
1076	triggers on each midnight, local time. To do this, you would calculate the	1406	triggers on "next midnight, local time". To do this, you would calculate the
1077	next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How	1407	next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How
1078	you do this is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial, which is the main	1408	you do this is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial, which is the main
1079	reason I omitted it as an example).	1409	reason I omitted it as an example).
1080		1410
1081	=back	1411	=back
…		…
1085	Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful	1415	Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
1086	when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return	1416	when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return
1087	a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like	1417	a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
1088	program when the crontabs have changed).	1418	program when the crontabs have changed).
1089		1419
		1420	=item ev_tstamp ev_periodic_at (ev_periodic *)
		1421
		1422	When active, returns the absolute time that the watcher is supposed to
		1423	trigger next.
		1424
		1425	=item ev_tstamp offset [read-write]
		1426
		1427	When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
		1428	absolute point in time (the C<at> value passed to C<ev_periodic_set>).
		1429
		1430	Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
		1431	timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
		1432
1090	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]	1433	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]
1091		1434
1092	The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only	1435	The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1093	take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being	1436	take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being
1094	called.	1437	called.
…		…
1099	switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when	1442	switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
1100	the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.	1443	the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1101		1444
1102	=back	1445	=back
1103		1446
		1447	=head3 Examples
		1448
1104	Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the	1449	Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
1105	system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have	1450	system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
1106	potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.	1451	potentially a lot of jitter, but good long-term stability.
1107		1452
1108	static void	1453	static void
1109	clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)	1454	clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
1110	{	1455	{
1111	... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)	1456	... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)
1112	}	1457	}
1113		1458
1114	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;	1459	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1115	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);	1460	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);
1116	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);	1461	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1117		1462
1118	Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:	1463	Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:
1119		1464
1120	#include <math.h>	1465	#include <math.h>
1121		1466
1122	static ev_tstamp	1467	static ev_tstamp
1123	my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)	1468	my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1124	{	1469	{
1125	return fmod (now, 3600.) + 3600.;	1470	return fmod (now, 3600.) + 3600.;
1126	}	1471	}
1127		1472
1128	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);	1473	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);
1129		1474
1130	Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:	1475	Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:
1131		1476
1132	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;	1477	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1133	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,	1478	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,
1134	fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);	1479	fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);
1135	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);	1480	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1136		1481
1137		1482
1138	=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!	1483	=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!
1139		1484
1140	Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific	1485	Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
…		…
1147	with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long	1492	with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long
1148	as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal	1493	as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal
1149	watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to	1494	watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to
1150	SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before).	1495	SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before).
1151		1496
		1497	If possible and supported, libev will install its handlers with
		1498	C<SA_RESTART> behaviour enabled, so system calls should not be unduly
		1499	interrupted. If you have a problem with system calls getting interrupted by
		1500	signals you can block all signals in an C<ev_check> watcher and unblock
		1501	them in an C<ev_prepare> watcher.
		1502
		1503	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		1504
1152	=over 4	1505	=over 4
1153		1506
1154	=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)	1507	=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)
1155		1508
1156	=item ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)	1509	=item ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)
…		…
1162		1515
1163	The signal the watcher watches out for.	1516	The signal the watcher watches out for.
1164		1517
1165	=back	1518	=back
1166		1519
		1520	=head3 Examples
		1521
		1522	Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.
		1523
		1524	static void
		1525	sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)
		1526	{
		1527	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
		1528	}
		1529
		1530	struct ev_signal signal_watcher;
		1531	ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);
		1532	ev_signal_start (loop, &sigint_cb);
		1533
1167		1534
1168	=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes	1535	=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes
1169		1536
1170	Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to	1537	Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to
1171	some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).	1538	some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies). It
		1539	is permissible to install a child watcher I<after> the child has been
		1540	forked (which implies it might have already exited), as long as the event
		1541	loop isn't entered (or is continued from a watcher).
		1542
		1543	Only the default event loop is capable of handling signals, and therefore
		1544	you can only register child watchers in the default event loop.
		1545
		1546	=head3 Process Interaction
		1547
		1548	Libev grabs C<SIGCHLD> as soon as the default event loop is
		1549	initialised. This is necessary to guarantee proper behaviour even if
		1550	the first child watcher is started after the child exits. The occurrence
		1551	of C<SIGCHLD> is recorded asynchronously, but child reaping is done
		1552	synchronously as part of the event loop processing. Libev always reaps all
		1553	children, even ones not watched.
		1554
		1555	=head3 Overriding the Built-In Processing
		1556
		1557	Libev offers no special support for overriding the built-in child
		1558	processing, but if your application collides with libev's default child
		1559	handler, you can override it easily by installing your own handler for
		1560	C<SIGCHLD> after initialising the default loop, and making sure the
		1561	default loop never gets destroyed. You are encouraged, however, to use an
		1562	event-based approach to child reaping and thus use libev's support for
		1563	that, so other libev users can use C<ev_child> watchers freely.
		1564
		1565	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1172		1566
1173	=over 4	1567	=over 4
1174		1568
1175	=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)	1569	=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid, int trace)
1176		1570
1177	=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)	1571	=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid, int trace)
1178		1572
1179	Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or	1573	Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or
1180	I<any> process if C<pid> is specified as C<0>). The callback can look	1574	I<any> process if C<pid> is specified as C<0>). The callback can look
1181	at the C<rstatus> member of the C<ev_child> watcher structure to see	1575	at the C<rstatus> member of the C<ev_child> watcher structure to see
1182	the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h> and see your systems	1576	the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h> and see your systems
1183	C<waitpid> documentation). The C<rpid> member contains the pid of the	1577	C<waitpid> documentation). The C<rpid> member contains the pid of the
1184	process causing the status change.	1578	process causing the status change. C<trace> must be either C<0> (only
		1579	activate the watcher when the process terminates) or C<1> (additionally
		1580	activate the watcher when the process is stopped or continued).
1185		1581
1186	=item int pid [read-only]	1582	=item int pid [read-only]
1187		1583
1188	The process id this watcher watches out for, or C<0>, meaning any process id.	1584	The process id this watcher watches out for, or C<0>, meaning any process id.
1189		1585
…		…
1196	The process exit/trace status caused by C<rpid> (see your systems	1592	The process exit/trace status caused by C<rpid> (see your systems
1197	C<waitpid> and C<sys/wait.h> documentation for details).	1593	C<waitpid> and C<sys/wait.h> documentation for details).
1198		1594
1199	=back	1595	=back
1200		1596
1201	Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.	1597	=head3 Examples
1202		1598
		1599	Example: C<fork()> a new process and install a child handler to wait for
		1600	its completion.
		1601
		1602	ev_child cw;
		1603
1203	static void	1604	static void
1204	sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)	1605	child_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_child *w, int revents)
1205	{	1606	{
1206	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);	1607	ev_child_stop (EV_A_ w);
		1608	printf ("process %d exited with status %x\n", w->rpid, w->rstatus);
1207	}	1609	}
1208		1610
1209	struct ev_signal signal_watcher;	1611	pid_t pid = fork ();
1210	ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);	1612
1211	ev_signal_start (loop, &sigint_cb);	1613	if (pid < 0)
		1614	// error
		1615	else if (pid == 0)
		1616	{
		1617	// the forked child executes here
		1618	exit (1);
		1619	}
		1620	else
		1621	{
		1622	ev_child_init (&cw, child_cb, pid, 0);
		1623	ev_child_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &cw);
		1624	}
1212		1625
1213		1626
1214	=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?	1627	=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?
1215		1628
1216	This watches a filesystem path for attribute changes. That is, it calls	1629	This watches a file system path for attribute changes. That is, it calls
1217	C<stat> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed	1630	C<stat> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed
1218	compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.	1631	compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.
1219		1632
1220	The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does	1633	The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does
1221	not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does	1634	not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does
1222	not exist" is signified by the C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is	1635	not exist" is signified by the C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is
1223	otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of	1636	otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of
1224	the stat buffer having unspecified contents.	1637	the stat buffer having unspecified contents.
1225		1638
		1639	The path I<should> be absolute and I<must not> end in a slash. If it is
		1640	relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.
		1641
1226	Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply	1642	Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply
1227	calls C<stat (2)> regulalry on the path to see if it changed somehow. You	1643	calls C<stat (2)> regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You
1228	can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify	1644	can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify
1229	a polling interval of C<0> (highly recommended!) then a I<suitable,	1645	a polling interval of C<0> (highly recommended!) then a I<suitable,
1230	unspecified default> value will be used (which you can expect to be around	1646	unspecified default> value will be used (which you can expect to be around
1231	five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also	1647	five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also
1232	impose a minimum interval which is currently around C<0.1>, but thats	1648	impose a minimum interval which is currently around C<0.1>, but thats
…		…
1234		1650
1235	This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,	1651	This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,
1236	as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be	1652	as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be
1237	resource-intensive.	1653	resource-intensive.
1238		1654
1239	At the time of this writing, no specific OS backends are implemented, but	1655	At the time of this writing, only the Linux inotify interface is
1240	if demand increases, at least a kqueue and inotify backend will be added.	1656	implemented (implementing kqueue support is left as an exercise for the
		1657	reader, note, however, that the author sees no way of implementing ev_stat
		1658	semantics with kqueue). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should
		1659	not change the semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers, which means that libev
		1660	sometimes needs to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify,
		1661	but changes are usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there
		1662	will be no polling.
		1663
		1664	=head3 ABI Issues (Largefile Support)
		1665
		1666	Libev by default (unless the user overrides this) uses the default
		1667	compilation environment, which means that on systems with large file
		1668	support disabled by default, you get the 32 bit version of the stat
		1669	structure. When using the library from programs that change the ABI to
		1670	use 64 bit file offsets the programs will fail. In that case you have to
		1671	compile libev with the same flags to get binary compatibility. This is
		1672	obviously the case with any flags that change the ABI, but the problem is
		1673	most noticeably disabled with ev_stat and large file support.
		1674
		1675	The solution for this is to lobby your distribution maker to make large
		1676	file interfaces available by default (as e.g. FreeBSD does) and not
		1677	optional. Libev cannot simply switch on large file support because it has
		1678	to exchange stat structures with application programs compiled using the
		1679	default compilation environment.
		1680
		1681	=head3 Inotify
		1682
		1683	When C<inotify (7)> support has been compiled into libev (generally only
		1684	available on Linux) and present at runtime, it will be used to speed up
		1685	change detection where possible. The inotify descriptor will be created lazily
		1686	when the first C<ev_stat> watcher is being started.
		1687
		1688	Inotify presence does not change the semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers
		1689	except that changes might be detected earlier, and in some cases, to avoid
		1690	making regular C<stat> calls. Even in the presence of inotify support
		1691	there are many cases where libev has to resort to regular C<stat> polling.
		1692
		1693	(There is no support for kqueue, as apparently it cannot be used to
		1694	implement this functionality, due to the requirement of having a file
		1695	descriptor open on the object at all times).
		1696
		1697	=head3 The special problem of stat time resolution
		1698
		1699	The C<stat ()> system call only supports full-second resolution portably, and
		1700	even on systems where the resolution is higher, many file systems still
		1701	only support whole seconds.
		1702
		1703	That means that, if the time is the only thing that changes, you can
		1704	easily miss updates: on the first update, C<ev_stat> detects a change and
		1705	calls your callback, which does something. When there is another update
		1706	within the same second, C<ev_stat> will be unable to detect it as the stat
		1707	data does not change.
		1708
		1709	The solution to this is to delay acting on a change for slightly more
		1710	than a second (or till slightly after the next full second boundary), using
		1711	a roughly one-second-delay C<ev_timer> (e.g. C<ev_timer_set (w, 0., 1.02);
		1712	ev_timer_again (loop, w)>).
		1713
		1714	The C<.02> offset is added to work around small timing inconsistencies
		1715	of some operating systems (where the second counter of the current time
		1716	might be be delayed. One such system is the Linux kernel, where a call to
		1717	C<gettimeofday> might return a timestamp with a full second later than
		1718	a subsequent C<time> call - if the equivalent of C<time ()> is used to
		1719	update file times then there will be a small window where the kernel uses
		1720	the previous second to update file times but libev might already execute
		1721	the timer callback).
		1722
		1723	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1241		1724
1242	=over 4	1725	=over 4
1243		1726
1244	=item ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)	1727	=item ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)
1245		1728
…		…
1249	C<path>. The C<interval> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to	1732	C<path>. The C<interval> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to
1250	be detected and should normally be specified as C<0> to let libev choose	1733	be detected and should normally be specified as C<0> to let libev choose
1251	a suitable value. The memory pointed to by C<path> must point to the same	1734	a suitable value. The memory pointed to by C<path> must point to the same
1252	path for as long as the watcher is active.	1735	path for as long as the watcher is active.
1253		1736
1254	The callback will be receive C<EV_STAT> when a change was detected,	1737	The callback will receive C<EV_STAT> when a change was detected, relative
1255	relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the	1738	to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the last change
1256	last change was detected).	1739	was detected).
1257		1740
1258	=item ev_stat_stat (ev_stat *)	1741	=item ev_stat_stat (loop, ev_stat *)
1259		1742
1260	Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the	1743	Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the
1261	watched path in your callback, you could call this fucntion to avoid	1744	watched path in your callback, you could call this function to avoid
1262	detecting this change (while introducing a race condition). Can also be	1745	detecting this change (while introducing a race condition if you are not
1263	useful simply to find out the new values.	1746	the only one changing the path). Can also be useful simply to find out the
		1747	new values.
1264		1748
1265	=item ev_statdata attr [read-only]	1749	=item ev_statdata attr [read-only]
1266		1750
1267	The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is of	1751	The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is
1268	C<ev_statdata>, this is usually the (or one of the) C<struct stat> types	1752	C<ev_statdata>, this is usually the (or one of the) C<struct stat> types
1269	suitable for your system. If the C<st_nlink> member is C<0>, then there	1753	suitable for your system, but you can only rely on the POSIX-standardised
		1754	members to be present. If the C<st_nlink> member is C<0>, then there was
1270	was some error while C<stat>ing the file.	1755	some error while C<stat>ing the file.
1271		1756
1272	=item ev_statdata prev [read-only]	1757	=item ev_statdata prev [read-only]
1273		1758
1274	The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever	1759	The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever
1275	C<prev> != C<attr>.	1760	C<prev> != C<attr>, or, more precisely, one or more of these members
		1761	differ: C<st_dev>, C<st_ino>, C<st_mode>, C<st_nlink>, C<st_uid>,
		1762	C<st_gid>, C<st_rdev>, C<st_size>, C<st_atime>, C<st_mtime>, C<st_ctime>.
1276		1763
1277	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-only]	1764	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-only]
1278		1765
1279	The specified interval.	1766	The specified interval.
1280		1767
1281	=item const char *path [read-only]	1768	=item const char *path [read-only]
1282		1769
1283	The filesystem path that is being watched.	1770	The file system path that is being watched.
1284		1771
1285	=back	1772	=back
1286		1773
		1774	=head3 Examples
		1775
1287	Example: Watch C</etc/passwd> for attribute changes.	1776	Example: Watch C</etc/passwd> for attribute changes.
1288		1777
1289	static void	1778	static void
1290	passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)	1779	passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)
1291	{	1780	{
1292	/* /etc/passwd changed in some way */	1781	/* /etc/passwd changed in some way */
1293	if (w->attr.st_nlink)	1782	if (w->attr.st_nlink)
1294	{	1783	{
1295	printf ("passwd current size %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_size);	1784	printf ("passwd current size %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_size);
1296	printf ("passwd current atime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);	1785	printf ("passwd current atime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1297	printf ("passwd current mtime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);	1786	printf ("passwd current mtime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1298	}	1787	}
1299	else	1788	else
1300	/* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */	1789	/* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */
1301	puts ("wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. "	1790	puts ("wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. "
1302	"if this is windows, they already arrived\n");	1791	"if this is windows, they already arrived\n");
1303	}	1792	}
1304		1793
1305	...	1794	...
1306	ev_stat passwd;	1795	ev_stat passwd;
1307		1796
1308	ev_stat_init (&passwd, passwd_cb, "/etc/passwd");	1797	ev_stat_init (&passwd, passwd_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);
1309	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);	1798	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
		1799
		1800	Example: Like above, but additionally use a one-second delay so we do not
		1801	miss updates (however, frequent updates will delay processing, too, so
		1802	one might do the work both on C<ev_stat> callback invocation I<and> on
		1803	C<ev_timer> callback invocation).
		1804
		1805	static ev_stat passwd;
		1806	static ev_timer timer;
		1807
		1808	static void
		1809	timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
		1810	{
		1811	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ w);
		1812
		1813	/* now it's one second after the most recent passwd change */
		1814	}
		1815
		1816	static void
		1817	stat_cb (EV_P_ ev_stat *w, int revents)
		1818	{
		1819	/* reset the one-second timer */
		1820	ev_timer_again (EV_A_ &timer);
		1821	}
		1822
		1823	...
		1824	ev_stat_init (&passwd, stat_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);
		1825	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
		1826	ev_timer_init (&timer, timer_cb, 0., 1.02);
1310		1827
1311		1828
1312	=head2 C<ev_idle> - when you've got nothing better to do...	1829	=head2 C<ev_idle> - when you've got nothing better to do...
1313		1830
1314	Idle watchers trigger events when there are no other events are pending	1831	Idle watchers trigger events when no other events of the same or higher
1315	(prepare, check and other idle watchers do not count). That is, as long	1832	priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not
1316	as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts (or even signals,	1833	count).
1317	imagine) it will not be triggered. But when your process is idle all idle	1834
1318	watchers are being called again and again, once per event loop iteration -	1835	That is, as long as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts
		1836	(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be
		1837	triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers
		1838	are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop
1319	until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events and becomes	1839	iteration - until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events
1320	busy.	1840	and becomes busy again with higher priority stuff.
1321		1841
1322	The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are	1842	The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are
1323	active, the process will not block when waiting for new events.	1843	active, the process will not block when waiting for new events.
1324		1844
1325	Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful	1845	Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful
1326	effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do	1846	effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do
1327	"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the	1847	"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the
1328	event loop has handled all outstanding events.	1848	event loop has handled all outstanding events.
1329		1849
		1850	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		1851
1330	=over 4	1852	=over 4
1331		1853
1332	=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)	1854	=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)
1333		1855
1334	Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any	1856	Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any
1335	kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,	1857	kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1336	believe me.	1858	believe me.
1337		1859
1338	=back	1860	=back
1339		1861
		1862	=head3 Examples
		1863
1340	Example: Dynamically allocate an C<ev_idle> watcher, start it, and in the	1864	Example: Dynamically allocate an C<ev_idle> watcher, start it, and in the
1341	callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.	1865	callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.
1342		1866
1343	static void	1867	static void
1344	idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)	1868	idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)
1345	{	1869	{
1346	free (w);	1870	free (w);
1347	// now do something you wanted to do when the program has	1871	// now do something you wanted to do when the program has
1348	// no longer asnything immediate to do.	1872	// no longer anything immediate to do.
1349	}	1873	}
1350		1874
1351	struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle));	1875	struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle));
1352	ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);	1876	ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);
1353	ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb);	1877	ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb);
1354		1878
1355		1879
1356	=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!	1880	=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!
1357		1881
1358	Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:	1882	Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:
…		…
1377		1901
1378	This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need	1902	This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need
1379	to be watched by the other library, registering C<ev_io> watchers for	1903	to be watched by the other library, registering C<ev_io> watchers for
1380	them and starting an C<ev_timer> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries	1904	them and starting an C<ev_timer> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries
1381	provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for	1905	provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for
1382	any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers	1906	any events that occurred (by checking the pending status of all watchers
1383	and stopping them) and call back into the library. The I/O and timer	1907	and stopping them) and call back into the library. The I/O and timer
1384	callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid nevertheless,	1908	callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid nevertheless,
1385	because you never know, you know?).	1909	because you never know, you know?).
1386		1910
1387	As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate	1911	As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate
…		…
1391	with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine	1915	with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine
1392	of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event	1916	of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
1393	loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping	1917	loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
1394	low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).	1918	low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).
1395		1919
		1920	It is recommended to give C<ev_check> watchers highest (C<EV_MAXPRI>)
		1921	priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers
		1922	after the poll. Also, C<ev_check> watchers (and C<ev_prepare> watchers,
		1923	too) should not activate ("feed") events into libev. While libev fully
		1924	supports this, they might get executed before other C<ev_check> watchers
		1925	did their job. As C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other
		1926	(non-libev) event loops those other event loops might be in an unusable
		1927	state until their C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to
		1928	coexist peacefully with others).
		1929
		1930	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		1931
1396	=over 4	1932	=over 4
1397		1933
1398	=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)	1934	=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)
1399		1935
1400	=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)	1936	=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)
…		…
1403	parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set>	1939	parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set>
1404	macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.	1940	macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.
1405		1941
1406	=back	1942	=back
1407		1943
1408	Example: To include a library such as adns, you would add IO watchers	1944	=head3 Examples
1409	and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler, as required by libadns, and	1945
		1946	There are a number of principal ways to embed other event loops or modules
		1947	into libev. Here are some ideas on how to include libadns into libev
		1948	(there is a Perl module named C<EV::ADNS> that does this, which you could
		1949	use as a working example. Another Perl module named C<EV::Glib> embeds a
		1950	Glib main context into libev, and finally, C<Glib::EV> embeds EV into the
		1951	Glib event loop).
		1952
		1953	Method 1: Add IO watchers and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler,
1410	in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows is	1954	and in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows
1411	pseudo-code only of course:	1955	is pseudo-code only of course. This requires you to either use a low
		1956	priority for the check watcher or use C<ev_clear_pending> explicitly, as
		1957	the callbacks for the IO/timeout watchers might not have been called yet.
1412		1958
1413	static ev_io iow [nfd];	1959	static ev_io iow [nfd];
1414	static ev_timer tw;	1960	static ev_timer tw;
1415		1961
1416	static void	1962	static void
1417	io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)	1963	io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
1418	{	1964	{
1419	// set the relevant poll flags
1420	// could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
1421	struct pollfd *fd = (struct pollfd *)w->data;
1422	if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
1423	if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
1424	}	1965	}
1425		1966
1426	// create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking	1967	// create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
1427	static void	1968	static void
1428	adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)	1969	adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
1429	{	1970	{
1430	int timeout = 3600000;truct pollfd fds [nfd];	1971	int timeout = 3600000;
		1972	struct pollfd fds [nfd];
1431	// actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.	1973	// actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
1432	adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));	1974	adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
1433		1975
1434	/* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */	1976	/* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
1435	ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);	1977	ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);
1436	ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);	1978	ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);
1437		1979
1438	// create on ev_io per pollfd	1980	// create one ev_io per pollfd
1439	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)	1981	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1440	{	1982	{
1441	ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,	1983	ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,
1442	((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)	1984	((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)
1443	| (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));	1985	| (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));
1444		1986
1445	fds [i].revents = 0;	1987	fds [i].revents = 0;
1446	iow [i].data = fds + i;
1447	ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);	1988	ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);
1448	}	1989	}
1449	}	1990	}
1450		1991
1451	// stop all watchers after blocking	1992	// stop all watchers after blocking
1452	static void	1993	static void
1453	adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)	1994	adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)
1454	{	1995	{
1455	ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);	1996	ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);
1456		1997
1457	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)	1998	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
		1999	{
		2000	// set the relevant poll flags
		2001	// could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
		2002	struct pollfd *fd = fds + i;
		2003	int revents = ev_clear_pending (iow + i);
		2004	if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
		2005	if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
		2006
		2007	// now stop the watcher
1458	ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);	2008	ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
		2009	}
1459		2010
1460	adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));	2011	adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));
1461	}	2012	}
		2013
		2014	Method 2: This would be just like method 1, but you run C<adns_afterpoll>
		2015	in the prepare watcher and would dispose of the check watcher.
		2016
		2017	Method 3: If the module to be embedded supports explicit event
		2018	notification (libadns does), you can also make use of the actual watcher
		2019	callbacks, and only destroy/create the watchers in the prepare watcher.
		2020
		2021	static void
		2022	timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
		2023	{
		2024	adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
		2025	update_now (EV_A);
		2026
		2027	adns_processtimeouts (ads, &tv_now);
		2028	}
		2029
		2030	static void
		2031	io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
		2032	{
		2033	adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
		2034	update_now (EV_A);
		2035
		2036	if (revents & EV_READ ) adns_processreadable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
		2037	if (revents & EV_WRITE) adns_processwriteable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
		2038	}
		2039
		2040	// do not ever call adns_afterpoll
		2041
		2042	Method 4: Do not use a prepare or check watcher because the module you
		2043	want to embed is too inflexible to support it. Instead, you can override
		2044	their poll function. The drawback with this solution is that the main
		2045	loop is now no longer controllable by EV. The C<Glib::EV> module does
		2046	this.
		2047
		2048	static gint
		2049	event_poll_func (GPollFD *fds, guint nfds, gint timeout)
		2050	{
		2051	int got_events = 0;
		2052
		2053	for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
		2054	// create/start io watcher that sets the relevant bits in fds[n] and increment got_events
		2055
		2056	if (timeout >= 0)
		2057	// create/start timer
		2058
		2059	// poll
		2060	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
		2061
		2062	// stop timer again
		2063	if (timeout >= 0)
		2064	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &to);
		2065
		2066	// stop io watchers again - their callbacks should have set
		2067	for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
		2068	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ iow [n]);
		2069
		2070	return got_events;
		2071	}
1462		2072
1463		2073
1464	=head2 C<ev_embed> - when one backend isn't enough...	2074	=head2 C<ev_embed> - when one backend isn't enough...
1465		2075
1466	This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop	2076	This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop
…		…
1508	portable one.	2118	portable one.
1509		2119
1510	So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared	2120	So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared
1511	that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around	2121	that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around
1512	this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to	2122	this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to
1513	create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything:	2123	create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything.
1514		2124
1515	struct ev_loop *loop_hi = ev_default_init (0);	2125	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1516	struct ev_loop *loop_lo = 0;
1517	struct ev_embed embed;
1518
1519	// see if there is a chance of getting one that works
1520	// (remember that a flags value of 0 means autodetection)
1521	loop_lo = ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ()
1522	? ev_loop_new (ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ())
1523	: 0;
1524
1525	// if we got one, then embed it, otherwise default to loop_hi
1526	if (loop_lo)
1527	{
1528	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_lo);
1529	ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);
1530	}
1531	else
1532	loop_lo = loop_hi;
1533		2126
1534	=over 4	2127	=over 4
1535		2128
1536	=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)	2129	=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
1537		2130
…		…
1539		2132
1540	Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be	2133	Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be
1541	embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be	2134	embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be
1542	invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback	2135	invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback
1543	to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,	2136	to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,
1544	if you do not want thta, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).	2137	if you do not want that, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).
1545		2138
1546	=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)	2139	=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)
1547		2140
1548	Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works	2141	Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works
1549	similarly to C<ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)>, but in the most	2142	similarly to C<ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)>, but in the most
1550	apropriate way for embedded loops.	2143	appropriate way for embedded loops.
1551		2144
1552	=item struct ev_loop *loop [read-only]	2145	=item struct ev_loop *other [read-only]
1553		2146
1554	The embedded event loop.	2147	The embedded event loop.
1555		2148
1556	=back	2149	=back
		2150
		2151	=head3 Examples
		2152
		2153	Example: Try to get an embeddable event loop and embed it into the default
		2154	event loop. If that is not possible, use the default loop. The default
		2155	loop is stored in C<loop_hi>, while the embeddable loop is stored in
		2156	C<loop_lo> (which is C<loop_hi> in the case no embeddable loop can be
		2157	used).
		2158
		2159	struct ev_loop *loop_hi = ev_default_init (0);
		2160	struct ev_loop *loop_lo = 0;
		2161	struct ev_embed embed;
		2162
		2163	// see if there is a chance of getting one that works
		2164	// (remember that a flags value of 0 means autodetection)
		2165	loop_lo = ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ()
		2166	? ev_loop_new (ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ())
		2167	: 0;
		2168
		2169	// if we got one, then embed it, otherwise default to loop_hi
		2170	if (loop_lo)
		2171	{
		2172	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_lo);
		2173	ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);
		2174	}
		2175	else
		2176	loop_lo = loop_hi;
		2177
		2178	Example: Check if kqueue is available but not recommended and create
		2179	a kqueue backend for use with sockets (which usually work with any
		2180	kqueue implementation). Store the kqueue/socket-only event loop in
		2181	C<loop_socket>. (One might optionally use C<EVFLAG_NOENV>, too).
		2182
		2183	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
		2184	struct ev_loop *loop_socket = 0;
		2185	struct ev_embed embed;
		2186
		2187	if (ev_supported_backends () & ~ev_recommended_backends () & EVBACKEND_KQUEUE)
		2188	if ((loop_socket = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_KQUEUE))
		2189	{
		2190	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_socket);
		2191	ev_embed_start (loop, &embed);
		2192	}
		2193
		2194	if (!loop_socket)
		2195	loop_socket = loop;
		2196
		2197	// now use loop_socket for all sockets, and loop for everything else
1557		2198
1558		2199
1559	=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork	2200	=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork
1560		2201
1561	Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because	2202	Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because
…		…
1564	event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,	2205	event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,
1565	and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling	2206	and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling
1566	C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork	2207	C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork
1567	handlers will be invoked, too, of course.	2208	handlers will be invoked, too, of course.
1568		2209
		2210	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		2211
1569	=over 4	2212	=over 4
1570		2213
1571	=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)	2214	=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)
1572		2215
1573	Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any	2216	Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
1574	kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,	2217	kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1575	believe me.	2218	believe me.
		2219
		2220	=back
		2221
		2222
		2223	=head2 C<ev_async> - how to wake up another event loop
		2224
		2225	In general, you cannot use an C<ev_loop> from multiple threads or other
		2226	asynchronous sources such as signal handlers (as opposed to multiple event
		2227	loops - those are of course safe to use in different threads).
		2228
		2229	Sometimes, however, you need to wake up another event loop you do not
		2230	control, for example because it belongs to another thread. This is what
		2231	C<ev_async> watchers do: as long as the C<ev_async> watcher is active, you
		2232	can signal it by calling C<ev_async_send>, which is thread- and signal
		2233	safe.
		2234
		2235	This functionality is very similar to C<ev_signal> watchers, as signals,
		2236	too, are asynchronous in nature, and signals, too, will be compressed
		2237	(i.e. the number of callback invocations may be less than the number of
		2238	C<ev_async_sent> calls).
		2239
		2240	Unlike C<ev_signal> watchers, C<ev_async> works with any event loop, not
		2241	just the default loop.
		2242
		2243	=head3 Queueing
		2244
		2245	C<ev_async> does not support queueing of data in any way. The reason
		2246	is that the author does not know of a simple (or any) algorithm for a
		2247	multiple-writer-single-reader queue that works in all cases and doesn't
		2248	need elaborate support such as pthreads.
		2249
		2250	That means that if you want to queue data, you have to provide your own
		2251	queue. But at least I can tell you would implement locking around your
		2252	queue:
		2253
		2254	=over 4
		2255
		2256	=item queueing from a signal handler context
		2257
		2258	To implement race-free queueing, you simply add to the queue in the signal
		2259	handler but you block the signal handler in the watcher callback. Here is an example that does that for
		2260	some fictitious SIGUSR1 handler:
		2261
		2262	static ev_async mysig;
		2263
		2264	static void
		2265	sigusr1_handler (void)
		2266	{
		2267	sometype data;
		2268
		2269	// no locking etc.
		2270	queue_put (data);
		2271	ev_async_send (EV_DEFAULT_ &mysig);
		2272	}
		2273
		2274	static void
		2275	mysig_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
		2276	{
		2277	sometype data;
		2278	sigset_t block, prev;
		2279
		2280	sigemptyset (&block);
		2281	sigaddset (&block, SIGUSR1);
		2282	sigprocmask (SIG_BLOCK, &block, &prev);
		2283
		2284	while (queue_get (&data))
		2285	process (data);
		2286
		2287	if (sigismember (&prev, SIGUSR1)
		2288	sigprocmask (SIG_UNBLOCK, &block, 0);
		2289	}
		2290
		2291	(Note: pthreads in theory requires you to use C<pthread_setmask>
		2292	instead of C<sigprocmask> when you use threads, but libev doesn't do it
		2293	either...).
		2294
		2295	=item queueing from a thread context
		2296
		2297	The strategy for threads is different, as you cannot (easily) block
		2298	threads but you can easily preempt them, so to queue safely you need to
		2299	employ a traditional mutex lock, such as in this pthread example:
		2300
		2301	static ev_async mysig;
		2302	static pthread_mutex_t mymutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
		2303
		2304	static void
		2305	otherthread (void)
		2306	{
		2307	// only need to lock the actual queueing operation
		2308	pthread_mutex_lock (&mymutex);
		2309	queue_put (data);
		2310	pthread_mutex_unlock (&mymutex);
		2311
		2312	ev_async_send (EV_DEFAULT_ &mysig);
		2313	}
		2314
		2315	static void
		2316	mysig_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
		2317	{
		2318	pthread_mutex_lock (&mymutex);
		2319
		2320	while (queue_get (&data))
		2321	process (data);
		2322
		2323	pthread_mutex_unlock (&mymutex);
		2324	}
		2325
		2326	=back
		2327
		2328
		2329	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		2330
		2331	=over 4
		2332
		2333	=item ev_async_init (ev_async *, callback)
		2334
		2335	Initialises and configures the async watcher - it has no parameters of any
		2336	kind. There is a C<ev_asynd_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
		2337	believe me.
		2338
		2339	=item ev_async_send (loop, ev_async *)
		2340
		2341	Sends/signals/activates the given C<ev_async> watcher, that is, feeds
		2342	an C<EV_ASYNC> event on the watcher into the event loop. Unlike
		2343	C<ev_feed_event>, this call is safe to do in other threads, signal or
		2344	similar contexts (see the discussion of C<EV_ATOMIC_T> in the embedding
		2345	section below on what exactly this means).
		2346
		2347	This call incurs the overhead of a system call only once per loop iteration,
		2348	so while the overhead might be noticeable, it doesn't apply to repeated
		2349	calls to C<ev_async_send>.
		2350
		2351	=item bool = ev_async_pending (ev_async *)
		2352
		2353	Returns a non-zero value when C<ev_async_send> has been called on the
		2354	watcher but the event has not yet been processed (or even noted) by the
		2355	event loop.
		2356
		2357	C<ev_async_send> sets a flag in the watcher and wakes up the loop. When
		2358	the loop iterates next and checks for the watcher to have become active,
		2359	it will reset the flag again. C<ev_async_pending> can be used to very
		2360	quickly check whether invoking the loop might be a good idea.
		2361
		2362	Not that this does I<not> check whether the watcher itself is pending, only
		2363	whether it has been requested to make this watcher pending.
1576		2364
1577	=back	2365	=back
1578		2366
1579		2367
1580	=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS	2368	=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS
…		…
1591	or timeout without having to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or	2379	or timeout without having to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or
1592	more watchers yourself.	2380	more watchers yourself.
1593		2381
1594	If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events	2382	If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events
1595	is being ignored. Otherwise, an C<ev_io> watcher for the given C<fd> and	2383	is being ignored. Otherwise, an C<ev_io> watcher for the given C<fd> and
1596	C<events> set will be craeted and started.	2384	C<events> set will be created and started.
1597		2385
1598	If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be	2386	If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be
1599	started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and	2387	started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and
1600	repeat = 0) will be started. While C<0> is a valid timeout, it is of	2388	repeat = 0) will be started. While C<0> is a valid timeout, it is of
1601	dubious value.	2389	dubious value.
…		…
1603	The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and gets	2391	The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and gets
1604	passed an C<revents> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of	2392	passed an C<revents> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of
1605	C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMEOUT>) and the C<arg>	2393	C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMEOUT>) and the C<arg>
1606	value passed to C<ev_once>:	2394	value passed to C<ev_once>:
1607		2395
1608	static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)	2396	static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)
1609	{	2397	{
1610	if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT)	2398	if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT)
1611	/* doh, nothing entered */;	2399	/* doh, nothing entered */;
1612	else if (revents & EV_READ)	2400	else if (revents & EV_READ)
1613	/* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;	2401	/* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;
1614	}	2402	}
1615		2403
1616	ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);	2404	ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);
1617		2405
1618	=item ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)	2406	=item ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)
1619		2407
1620	Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event	2408	Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
1621	had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an	2409	had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
…		…
1626	Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected	2414	Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
1627	the given events it.	2415	the given events it.
1628		2416
1629	=item ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)	2417	=item ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)
1630		2418
1631	Feed an event as if the given signal occured (C<loop> must be the default	2419	Feed an event as if the given signal occurred (C<loop> must be the default
1632	loop!).	2420	loop!).
1633		2421
1634	=back	2422	=back
1635		2423
1636		2424
…		…
1652		2440
1653	=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities	2441	=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities
1654	will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there	2442	will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there
1655	is an ev_pri field.	2443	is an ev_pri field.
1656		2444
		2445	=item * In libevent, the last base created gets the signals, in libev, the
		2446	first base created (== the default loop) gets the signals.
		2447
1657	=item * Other members are not supported.	2448	=item * Other members are not supported.
1658		2449
1659	=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need	2450	=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
1660	to use the libev header file and library.	2451	to use the libev header file and library.
1661		2452
1662	=back	2453	=back
1663		2454
1664	=head1 C++ SUPPORT	2455	=head1 C++ SUPPORT
1665		2456
1666	Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow	2457	Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow
1667	you to use some convinience methods to start/stop watchers and also change	2458	you to use some convenience methods to start/stop watchers and also change
1668	the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.	2459	the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.
1669		2460
1670	To use it,	2461	To use it,
1671		2462
1672	#include <ev++.h>	2463	#include <ev++.h>
1673		2464
1674	(it is not installed by default). This automatically includes F<ev.h>	2465	This automatically includes F<ev.h> and puts all of its definitions (many
1675	and puts all of its definitions (many of them macros) into the global	2466	of them macros) into the global namespace. All C++ specific things are
1676	namespace. All C++ specific things are put into the C<ev> namespace.	2467	put into the C<ev> namespace. It should support all the same embedding
		2468	options as F<ev.h>, most notably C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>.
1677		2469
1678	It should support all the same embedding options as F<ev.h>, most notably	2470	Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the C++
1679	C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>.	2471	classes add (compared to plain C-style watchers) is the event loop pointer
		2472	that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if
		2473	you disable C<EV_MULTIPLICITY> when embedding libev).
		2474
		2475	Currently, functions, and static and non-static member functions can be
		2476	used as callbacks. Other types should be easy to add as long as they only
		2477	need one additional pointer for context. If you need support for other
		2478	types of functors please contact the author (preferably after implementing
		2479	it).
1680		2480
1681	Here is a list of things available in the C<ev> namespace:	2481	Here is a list of things available in the C<ev> namespace:
1682		2482
1683	=over 4	2483	=over 4
1684		2484
…		…
1700		2500
1701	All of those classes have these methods:	2501	All of those classes have these methods:
1702		2502
1703	=over 4	2503	=over 4
1704		2504
1705	=item ev::TYPE::TYPE (object *, object::method *)	2505	=item ev::TYPE::TYPE ()
1706		2506
1707	=item ev::TYPE::TYPE (object *, object::method *, struct ev_loop *)	2507	=item ev::TYPE::TYPE (struct ev_loop *)
1708		2508
1709	=item ev::TYPE::~TYPE	2509	=item ev::TYPE::~TYPE
1710		2510
1711	The constructor takes a pointer to an object and a method pointer to	2511	The constructor (optionally) takes an event loop to associate the watcher
1712	the event handler callback to call in this class. The constructor calls	2512	with. If it is omitted, it will use C<EV_DEFAULT>.
1713	C<ev_init> for you, which means you have to call the C<set> method	2513
1714	before starting it. If you do not specify a loop then the constructor	2514	The constructor calls C<ev_init> for you, which means you have to call the
1715	automatically associates the default loop with this watcher.	2515	C<set> method before starting it.
		2516
		2517	It will not set a callback, however: You have to call the templated C<set>
		2518	method to set a callback before you can start the watcher.
		2519
		2520	(The reason why you have to use a method is a limitation in C++ which does
		2521	not allow explicit template arguments for constructors).
1716		2522
1717	The destructor automatically stops the watcher if it is active.	2523	The destructor automatically stops the watcher if it is active.
		2524
		2525	=item w->set<class, &class::method> (object *)
		2526
		2527	This method sets the callback method to call. The method has to have a
		2528	signature of C<void (*)(ev_TYPE &, int)>, it receives the watcher as
		2529	first argument and the C<revents> as second. The object must be given as
		2530	parameter and is stored in the C<data> member of the watcher.
		2531
		2532	This method synthesizes efficient thunking code to call your method from
		2533	the C callback that libev requires. If your compiler can inline your
		2534	callback (i.e. it is visible to it at the place of the C<set> call and
		2535	your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the
		2536	thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.
		2537
		2538	Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation
		2539
		2540	struct myclass
		2541	{
		2542	void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
		2543	}
		2544
		2545	myclass obj;
		2546	ev::io iow;
		2547	iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);
		2548
		2549	=item w->set<function> (void *data = 0)
		2550
		2551	Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as
		2552	callback. The optional C<data> argument will be stored in the watcher's
		2553	C<data> member and is free for you to use.
		2554
		2555	The prototype of the C<function> must be C<void (*)(ev::TYPE &w, int)>.
		2556
		2557	See the method-C<set> above for more details.
		2558
		2559	Example:
		2560
		2561	static void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
		2562	iow.set <io_cb> ();
1718		2563
1719	=item w->set (struct ev_loop *)	2564	=item w->set (struct ev_loop *)
1720		2565
1721	Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only	2566	Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only
1722	do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).	2567	do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).
1723		2568
1724	=item w->set ([args])	2569	=item w->set ([arguments])
1725		2570
1726	Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set>, with the same args. Must be	2571	Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set>, with the same arguments. Must be
1727	called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets	2572	called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets
1728	automatically stopped and restarted.	2573	automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this
		2574	method.
1729		2575
1730	=item w->start ()	2576	=item w->start ()
1731		2577
1732	Starts the watcher. Note that there is no C<loop> argument as the	2578	Starts the watcher. Note that there is no C<loop> argument, as the
1733	constructor already takes the loop.	2579	constructor already stores the event loop.
1734		2580
1735	=item w->stop ()	2581	=item w->stop ()
1736		2582
1737	Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.	2583	Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.
1738		2584
1739	=item w->again () C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only	2585	=item w->again () (C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only)
1740		2586
1741	For C<ev::timer> and C<ev::periodic>, this invokes the corresponding	2587	For C<ev::timer> and C<ev::periodic>, this invokes the corresponding
1742	C<ev_TYPE_again> function.	2588	C<ev_TYPE_again> function.
1743		2589
1744	=item w->sweep () C<ev::embed> only	2590	=item w->sweep () (C<ev::embed> only)
1745		2591
1746	Invokes C<ev_embed_sweep>.	2592	Invokes C<ev_embed_sweep>.
1747		2593
1748	=item w->update () C<ev::stat> only	2594	=item w->update () (C<ev::stat> only)
1749		2595
1750	Invokes C<ev_stat_stat>.	2596	Invokes C<ev_stat_stat>.
1751		2597
1752	=back	2598	=back
1753		2599
1754	=back	2600	=back
1755		2601
1756	Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in	2602	Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in
1757	the constructor.	2603	the constructor.
1758		2604
1759	class myclass	2605	class myclass
1760	{	2606	{
1761	ev_io io; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);	2607	ev::io io; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);
1762	ev_idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);	2608	ev:idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);
1763		2609
1764	myclass ();	2610	myclass (int fd)
1765	}	2611	{
		2612	io .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb > (this);
		2613	idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);
1766		2614
1767	myclass::myclass (int fd)
1768	: io (this, &myclass::io_cb),
1769	idle (this, &myclass::idle_cb)
1770	{
1771	io.start (fd, ev::READ);	2615	io.start (fd, ev::READ);
		2616	}
1772	}	2617	};
		2618
		2619
		2620	=head1 OTHER LANGUAGE BINDINGS
		2621
		2622	Libev does not offer other language bindings itself, but bindings for a
		2623	number of languages exist in the form of third-party packages. If you know
		2624	any interesting language binding in addition to the ones listed here, drop
		2625	me a note.
		2626
		2627	=over 4
		2628
		2629	=item Perl
		2630
		2631	The EV module implements the full libev API and is actually used to test
		2632	libev. EV is developed together with libev. Apart from the EV core module,
		2633	there are additional modules that implement libev-compatible interfaces
		2634	to C<libadns> (C<EV::ADNS>), C<Net::SNMP> (C<Net::SNMP::EV>) and the
		2635	C<libglib> event core (C<Glib::EV> and C<EV::Glib>).
		2636
		2637	It can be found and installed via CPAN, its homepage is at
		2638	L<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV>.
		2639
		2640	=item Python
		2641
		2642	Python bindings can be found at L<http://code.google.com/p/pyev/>. It
		2643	seems to be quite complete and well-documented. Note, however, that the
		2644	patch they require for libev is outright dangerous as it breaks the ABI
		2645	for everybody else, and therefore, should never be applied in an installed
		2646	libev (if python requires an incompatible ABI then it needs to embed
		2647	libev).
		2648
		2649	=item Ruby
		2650
		2651	Tony Arcieri has written a ruby extension that offers access to a subset
		2652	of the libev API and adds file handle abstractions, asynchronous DNS and
		2653	more on top of it. It can be found via gem servers. Its homepage is at
		2654	L<http://rev.rubyforge.org/>.
		2655
		2656	=item D
		2657
		2658	Leandro Lucarella has written a D language binding (F<ev.d>) for libev, to
		2659	be found at L<http://git.llucax.com.ar/?p=software/ev.d.git;a=summary>.
		2660
		2661	=back
1773		2662
1774		2663
1775	=head1 MACRO MAGIC	2664	=head1 MACRO MAGIC
1776		2665
1777	Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundemantal is	2666	Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundamental
1778	C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines wether (most) functions and	2667	of which is C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines whether (most)
1779	callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument.	2668	functions and callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument.
1780		2669
1781	To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the	2670	To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
1782	following macros are defined:	2671	following macros are defined:
1783		2672
1784	=over 4	2673	=over 4
…		…
1787		2676
1788	This provides the loop I<argument> for functions, if one is required ("ev	2677	This provides the loop I<argument> for functions, if one is required ("ev
1789	loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,	2678	loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,
1790	C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:	2679	C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:
1791		2680
1792	ev_unref (EV_A);	2681	ev_unref (EV_A);
1793	ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);	2682	ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);
1794	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);	2683	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
1795		2684
1796	It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,	2685	It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,
1797	which is often provided by the following macro.	2686	which is often provided by the following macro.
1798		2687
1799	=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>	2688	=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>
1800		2689
1801	This provides the loop I<parameter> for functions, if one is required ("ev	2690	This provides the loop I<parameter> for functions, if one is required ("ev
1802	loop parameter"). The C<EV_P> form is used when this is the sole parameter,	2691	loop parameter"). The C<EV_P> form is used when this is the sole parameter,
1803	C<EV_P_> is used when other parameters are following. Example:	2692	C<EV_P_> is used when other parameters are following. Example:
1804		2693
1805	// this is how ev_unref is being declared	2694	// this is how ev_unref is being declared
1806	static void ev_unref (EV_P);	2695	static void ev_unref (EV_P);
1807		2696
1808	// this is how you can declare your typical callback	2697	// this is how you can declare your typical callback
1809	static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	2698	static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1810		2699
1811	It declares a parameter C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *>, quite	2700	It declares a parameter C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *>, quite
1812	suitable for use with C<EV_A>.	2701	suitable for use with C<EV_A>.
1813		2702
1814	=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>	2703	=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>
1815		2704
1816	Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default	2705	Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
1817	loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").	2706	loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").
1818		2707
		2708	=item C<EV_DEFAULT_UC>, C<EV_DEFAULT_UC_>
		2709
		2710	Usage identical to C<EV_DEFAULT> and C<EV_DEFAULT_>, but requires that the
		2711	default loop has been initialised (C<UC> == unchecked). Their behaviour
		2712	is undefined when the default loop has not been initialised by a previous
		2713	execution of C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_> or C<ev_default_init (...)>.
		2714
		2715	It is often prudent to use C<EV_DEFAULT> when initialising the first
		2716	watcher in a function but use C<EV_DEFAULT_UC> afterwards.
		2717
1819	=back	2718	=back
1820		2719
1821	Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, working regardless of	2720	Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above
1822	wether multiple loops are supported or not.	2721	macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported
		2722	or not.
1823		2723
1824	static void	2724	static void
1825	check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	2725	check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1826	{	2726	{
1827	ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);	2727	ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);
1828	}	2728	}
1829		2729
1830	ev_check check;	2730	ev_check check;
1831	ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);	2731	ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);
1832	ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);	2732	ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);
1833	ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);	2733	ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
1834
1835		2734
1836	=head1 EMBEDDING	2735	=head1 EMBEDDING
1837		2736
1838	Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host	2737	Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
1839	applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra	2738	applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
1840	Game Server, the EV perl module, the GNU Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)	2739	Game Server, the EV perl module, the GNU Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)
1841	and rxvt-unicode.	2740	and rxvt-unicode.
1842		2741
1843	The goal is to enable you to just copy the neecssary files into your	2742	The goal is to enable you to just copy the necessary files into your
1844	source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so	2743	source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so
1845	you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of	2744	you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of
1846	libev somewhere in your source tree).	2745	libev somewhere in your source tree).
1847		2746
1848	=head2 FILESETS	2747	=head2 FILESETS
1849		2748
1850	Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files	2749	Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files
1851	in your app.	2750	in your application.
1852		2751
1853	=head3 CORE EVENT LOOP	2752	=head3 CORE EVENT LOOP
1854		2753
1855	To include only the libev core (all the C<ev_*> functions), with manual	2754	To include only the libev core (all the C<ev_*> functions), with manual
1856	configuration (no autoconf):	2755	configuration (no autoconf):
1857		2756
1858	#define EV_STANDALONE 1	2757	#define EV_STANDALONE 1
1859	#include "ev.c"	2758	#include "ev.c"
1860		2759
1861	This will automatically include F<ev.h>, too, and should be done in a	2760	This will automatically include F<ev.h>, too, and should be done in a
1862	single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use	2761	single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use
1863	it, do the same for F<ev.h> in all files wishing to use this API (best	2762	it, do the same for F<ev.h> in all files wishing to use this API (best
1864	done by writing a wrapper around F<ev.h> that you can include instead and	2763	done by writing a wrapper around F<ev.h> that you can include instead and
1865	where you can put other configuration options):	2764	where you can put other configuration options):
1866		2765
1867	#define EV_STANDALONE 1	2766	#define EV_STANDALONE 1
1868	#include "ev.h"	2767	#include "ev.h"
1869		2768
1870	Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++	2769	Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++
1871	compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated	2770	compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated
1872	as a bug).	2771	as a bug).
1873		2772
1874	You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory	2773	You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory
1875	in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):	2774	in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):
1876		2775
1877	ev.h	2776	ev.h
1878	ev.c	2777	ev.c
1879	ev_vars.h	2778	ev_vars.h
1880	ev_wrap.h	2779	ev_wrap.h
1881		2780
1882	ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only	2781	ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only
1883		2782
1884	ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is by default)	2783	ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)
1885	ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)	2784	ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1886	ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)	2785	ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1887	ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)	2786	ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1888	ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)	2787	ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1889		2788
1890	F<ev.c> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need	2789	F<ev.c> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need
1891	to compile this single file.	2790	to compile this single file.
1892		2791
1893	=head3 LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API	2792	=head3 LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API
1894		2793
1895	To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:	2794	To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:
1896		2795
1897	#include "event.c"	2796	#include "event.c"
1898		2797
1899	in the file including F<ev.c>, and:	2798	in the file including F<ev.c>, and:
1900		2799
1901	#include "event.h"	2800	#include "event.h"
1902		2801
1903	in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes F<ev.h>.	2802	in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes F<ev.h>.
1904		2803
1905	You need the following additional files for this:	2804	You need the following additional files for this:
1906		2805
1907	event.h	2806	event.h
1908	event.c	2807	event.c
1909		2808
1910	=head3 AUTOCONF SUPPORT	2809	=head3 AUTOCONF SUPPORT
1911		2810
1912	Instead of using C<EV_STANDALONE=1> and providing your config in	2811	Instead of using C<EV_STANDALONE=1> and providing your configuration in
1913	whatever way you want, you can also C<m4_include([libev.m4])> in your	2812	whatever way you want, you can also C<m4_include([libev.m4])> in your
1914	F<configure.ac> and leave C<EV_STANDALONE> undefined. F<ev.c> will then	2813	F<configure.ac> and leave C<EV_STANDALONE> undefined. F<ev.c> will then
1915	include F<config.h> and configure itself accordingly.	2814	include F<config.h> and configure itself accordingly.
1916		2815
1917	For this of course you need the m4 file:	2816	For this of course you need the m4 file:
1918		2817
1919	libev.m4	2818	libev.m4
1920		2819
1921	=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS	2820	=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS
1922		2821
1923	Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to define	2822	Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to
1924	before including any of its files. The default is not to build for multiplicity	2823	define before including any of its files. The default in the absence of
1925	and only include the select backend.	2824	autoconf is noted for every option.
1926		2825
1927	=over 4	2826	=over 4
1928		2827
1929	=item EV_STANDALONE	2828	=item EV_STANDALONE
1930		2829
…		…
1935	F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.	2834	F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.
1936		2835
1937	=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC	2836	=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC
1938		2837
1939	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the	2838	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
1940	monotonic clock option at both compiletime and runtime. Otherwise no use	2839	monotonic clock option at both compile time and runtime. Otherwise no use
1941	of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you	2840	of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you
1942	usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when	2841	usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when
1943	the functionality isn't available is safe, though, althoguh you have	2842	the functionality isn't available is safe, though, although you have
1944	to make sure you link against any libraries where the C<clock_gettime>	2843	to make sure you link against any libraries where the C<clock_gettime>
1945	function is hiding in (often F<-lrt>).	2844	function is hiding in (often F<-lrt>).
1946		2845
1947	=item EV_USE_REALTIME	2846	=item EV_USE_REALTIME
1948		2847
1949	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the	2848	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
1950	realtime clock option at compiletime (and assume its availability at	2849	real-time clock option at compile time (and assume its availability at
1951	runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the realtime clock option will	2850	runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the real-time clock option will
1952	be attempted. This effectively replaces C<gettimeofday> by C<clock_get	2851	be attempted. This effectively replaces C<gettimeofday> by C<clock_get
1953	(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)> and will not normally affect correctness. See tzhe note about libraries	2852	(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)> and will not normally affect correctness. See the
1954	in the description of C<EV_USE_MONOTONIC>, though.	2853	note about libraries in the description of C<EV_USE_MONOTONIC>, though.
		2854
		2855	=item EV_USE_NANOSLEEP
		2856
		2857	If defined to be C<1>, libev will assume that C<nanosleep ()> is available
		2858	and will use it for delays. Otherwise it will use C<select ()>.
		2859
		2860	=item EV_USE_EVENTFD
		2861
		2862	If defined to be C<1>, then libev will assume that C<eventfd ()> is
		2863	available and will probe for kernel support at runtime. This will improve
		2864	C<ev_signal> and C<ev_async> performance and reduce resource consumption.
		2865	If undefined, it will be enabled if the headers indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc
		2866	2.7 or newer, otherwise disabled.
1955		2867
1956	=item EV_USE_SELECT	2868	=item EV_USE_SELECT
1957		2869
1958	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the	2870	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the
1959	C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no	2871	C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at auto-detection will be done: if no
1960	other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend	2872	other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend
1961	will not be compiled in.	2873	will not be compiled in.
1962		2874
1963	=item EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET	2875	=item EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET
1964		2876
1965	If defined to C<1>, then the select backend will use the system C<fd_set>	2877	If defined to C<1>, then the select backend will use the system C<fd_set>
1966	structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing	2878	structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing
1967	C<NFDBITS> or C<fd_mask> definition or it misguesses the bitset layout on	2879	C<NFDBITS> or C<fd_mask> definition or it mis-guesses the bitset layout on
1968	exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some	2880	exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some
1969	low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only	2881	low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only
1970	allows 64 sockets). The C<FD_SETSIZE> macro, set before compilation, might	2882	allows 64 sockets). The C<FD_SETSIZE> macro, set before compilation, might
1971	influence the size of the C<fd_set> used.	2883	influence the size of the C<fd_set> used.
1972		2884
…		…
1978	be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call	2890	be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
1979	C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,	2891	C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,
1980	it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even	2892	it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
1981	on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.	2893	on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.
1982		2894
		2895	=item EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE
		2896
		2897	If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> is enabled, then libev needs a way to map
		2898	file descriptors to socket handles. When not defining this symbol (the
		2899	default), then libev will call C<_get_osfhandle>, which is usually
		2900	correct. In some cases, programs use their own file descriptor management,
		2901	in which case they can provide this function to map fds to socket handles.
		2902
1983	=item EV_USE_POLL	2903	=item EV_USE_POLL
1984		2904
1985	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)	2905	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)
1986	backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It	2906	backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It
1987	takes precedence over select.	2907	takes precedence over select.
1988		2908
1989	=item EV_USE_EPOLL	2909	=item EV_USE_EPOLL
1990		2910
1991	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux	2911	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux
1992	C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,	2912	C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
1993	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the	2913	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
1994	preferred backend for GNU/Linux systems.	2914	backend for GNU/Linux systems. If undefined, it will be enabled if the
		2915	headers indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc 2.4 or newer, otherwise disabled.
1995		2916
1996	=item EV_USE_KQUEUE	2917	=item EV_USE_KQUEUE
1997		2918
1998	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style	2919	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style
1999	C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,	2920	C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,
…		…
2012	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred	2933	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2013	backend for Solaris 10 systems.	2934	backend for Solaris 10 systems.
2014		2935
2015	=item EV_USE_DEVPOLL	2936	=item EV_USE_DEVPOLL
2016		2937
2017	reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.	2938	Reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.
		2939
		2940	=item EV_USE_INOTIFY
		2941
		2942	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
		2943	interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will
		2944	be detected at runtime. If undefined, it will be enabled if the headers
		2945	indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc 2.4 or newer, otherwise disabled.
		2946
		2947	=item EV_ATOMIC_T
		2948
		2949	Libev requires an integer type (suitable for storing C<0> or C<1>) whose
		2950	access is atomic with respect to other threads or signal contexts. No such
		2951	type is easily found in the C language, so you can provide your own type
		2952	that you know is safe for your purposes. It is used both for signal handler "locking"
		2953	as well as for signal and thread safety in C<ev_async> watchers.
		2954
		2955	In the absence of this define, libev will use C<sig_atomic_t volatile>
		2956	(from F<signal.h>), which is usually good enough on most platforms.
2018		2957
2019	=item EV_H	2958	=item EV_H
2020		2959
2021	The name of the F<ev.h> header file used to include it. The default if	2960	The name of the F<ev.h> header file used to include it. The default if
2022	undefined is C<< <ev.h> >> in F<event.h> and C<"ev.h"> in F<ev.c>. This	2961	undefined is C<"ev.h"> in F<event.h>, F<ev.c> and F<ev++.h>. This can be
2023	can be used to virtually rename the F<ev.h> header file in case of conflicts.	2962	used to virtually rename the F<ev.h> header file in case of conflicts.
2024		2963
2025	=item EV_CONFIG_H	2964	=item EV_CONFIG_H
2026		2965
2027	If C<EV_STANDALONE> isn't C<1>, this variable can be used to override	2966	If C<EV_STANDALONE> isn't C<1>, this variable can be used to override
2028	F<ev.c>'s idea of where to find the F<config.h> file, similarly to	2967	F<ev.c>'s idea of where to find the F<config.h> file, similarly to
2029	C<EV_H>, above.	2968	C<EV_H>, above.
2030		2969
2031	=item EV_EVENT_H	2970	=item EV_EVENT_H
2032		2971
2033	Similarly to C<EV_H>, this macro can be used to override F<event.c>'s idea	2972	Similarly to C<EV_H>, this macro can be used to override F<event.c>'s idea
2034	of how the F<event.h> header can be found.	2973	of how the F<event.h> header can be found, the default is C<"event.h">.
2035		2974
2036	=item EV_PROTOTYPES	2975	=item EV_PROTOTYPES
2037		2976
2038	If defined to be C<0>, then F<ev.h> will not define any function	2977	If defined to be C<0>, then F<ev.h> will not define any function
2039	prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is	2978	prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is
…		…
2046	will have the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument, and you can create	2985	will have the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument, and you can create
2047	additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support	2986	additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support
2048	for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer	2987	for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer
2049	argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.	2988	argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.
2050		2989
		2990	=item EV_MINPRI
		2991
		2992	=item EV_MAXPRI
		2993
		2994	The range of allowed priorities. C<EV_MINPRI> must be smaller or equal to
		2995	C<EV_MAXPRI>, but otherwise there are no non-obvious limitations. You can
		2996	provide for more priorities by overriding those symbols (usually defined
		2997	to be C<-2> and C<2>, respectively).
		2998
		2999	When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search
		3000	all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space
		3001	and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (-2 .. +2) is usually
		3002	fine.
		3003
		3004	If your embedding application does not need any priorities, defining these both to
		3005	C<0> will save some memory and CPU.
		3006
2051	=item EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE	3007	=item EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE
2052		3008
2053	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then periodic timers are supported. If	3009	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then periodic timers are supported. If
2054	defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of	3010	defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2055	code.	3011	code.
2056		3012
		3013	=item EV_IDLE_ENABLE
		3014
		3015	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then idle watchers are supported. If
		3016	defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
		3017	code.
		3018
2057	=item EV_EMBED_ENABLE	3019	=item EV_EMBED_ENABLE
2058		3020
2059	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then embed watchers are supported. If	3021	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then embed watchers are supported. If
2060	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.	3022	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2061		3023
…		…
2067	=item EV_FORK_ENABLE	3029	=item EV_FORK_ENABLE
2068		3030
2069	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then fork watchers are supported. If	3031	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then fork watchers are supported. If
2070	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.	3032	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2071		3033
		3034	=item EV_ASYNC_ENABLE
		3035
		3036	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then async watchers are supported. If
		3037	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
		3038
2072	=item EV_MINIMAL	3039	=item EV_MINIMAL
2073		3040
2074	If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some	3041	If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some
2075	speed, define this symbol to C<1>. Currently only used for gcc to override	3042	speed, define this symbol to C<1>. Currently this is used to override some
2076	some inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% codesize of amd64.	3043	inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% code size on amd64. It also selects a
		3044	much smaller 2-heap for timer management over the default 4-heap.
2077		3045
2078	=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE	3046	=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE
2079		3047
2080	C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by	3048	C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2081	pid. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>), usually more	3049	pid. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>), usually more
2082	than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to	3050	than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to
2083	increase this value.	3051	increase this value (I<must> be a power of two).
		3052
		3053	=item EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE
		3054
		3055	C<ev_stat> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
		3056	inotify watch id. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>),
		3057	usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of C<ev_stat>
		3058	watchers you might want to increase this value (I<must> be a power of
		3059	two).
		3060
		3061	=item EV_USE_4HEAP
		3062
		3063	Heaps are not very cache-efficient. To improve the cache-efficiency of the
		3064	timer and periodics heap, libev uses a 4-heap when this symbol is defined
		3065	to C<1>. The 4-heap uses more complicated (longer) code but has
		3066	noticeably faster performance with many (thousands) of watchers.
		3067
		3068	The default is C<1> unless C<EV_MINIMAL> is set in which case it is C<0>
		3069	(disabled).
		3070
		3071	=item EV_HEAP_CACHE_AT
		3072
		3073	Heaps are not very cache-efficient. To improve the cache-efficiency of the
		3074	timer and periodics heap, libev can cache the timestamp (I<at>) within
		3075	the heap structure (selected by defining C<EV_HEAP_CACHE_AT> to C<1>),
		3076	which uses 8-12 bytes more per watcher and a few hundred bytes more code,
		3077	but avoids random read accesses on heap changes. This improves performance
		3078	noticeably with with many (hundreds) of watchers.
		3079
		3080	The default is C<1> unless C<EV_MINIMAL> is set in which case it is C<0>
		3081	(disabled).
		3082
		3083	=item EV_VERIFY
		3084
		3085	Controls how much internal verification (see C<ev_loop_verify ()>) will
		3086	be done: If set to C<0>, no internal verification code will be compiled
		3087	in. If set to C<1>, then verification code will be compiled in, but not
		3088	called. If set to C<2>, then the internal verification code will be
		3089	called once per loop, which can slow down libev. If set to C<3>, then the
		3090	verification code will be called very frequently, which will slow down
		3091	libev considerably.
		3092
		3093	The default is C<1>, unless C<EV_MINIMAL> is set, in which case it will be
		3094	C<0.>
2084		3095
2085	=item EV_COMMON	3096	=item EV_COMMON
2086		3097
2087	By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining	3098	By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining
2088	this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of	3099	this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of
2089	members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,	3100	members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
2090	though, and it must be identical each time.	3101	though, and it must be identical each time.
2091		3102
2092	For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:	3103	For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:
2093		3104
2094	#define EV_COMMON \	3105	#define EV_COMMON \
2095	SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \	3106	SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \
2096	SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing ";" */	3107	SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing ";" */
2097		3108
2098	=item EV_CB_DECLARE (type)	3109	=item EV_CB_DECLARE (type)
2099		3110
2100	=item EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)	3111	=item EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)
2101		3112
2102	=item ev_set_cb (ev, cb)	3113	=item ev_set_cb (ev, cb)
2103		3114
2104	Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,	3115	Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,
2105	and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member	3116	and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member
2106	definition and a statement, respectively. See the F<ev.v> header file for	3117	definition and a statement, respectively. See the F<ev.h> header file for
2107	their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to	3118	their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to
2108	avoid the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument in all cases, or to use	3119	avoid the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument in all cases, or to use
2109	method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.	3120	method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.
		3121
		3122	=head2 EXPORTED API SYMBOLS
		3123
		3124	If you need to re-export the API (e.g. via a DLL) and you need a list of
		3125	exported symbols, you can use the provided F<Symbol.*> files which list
		3126	all public symbols, one per line:
		3127
		3128	Symbols.ev for libev proper
		3129	Symbols.event for the libevent emulation
		3130
		3131	This can also be used to rename all public symbols to avoid clashes with
		3132	multiple versions of libev linked together (which is obviously bad in
		3133	itself, but sometimes it is inconvenient to avoid this).
		3134
		3135	A sed command like this will create wrapper C<#define>'s that you need to
		3136	include before including F<ev.h>:
		3137
		3138	<Symbols.ev sed -e "s/.*/#define & myprefix_&/" >wrap.h
		3139
		3140	This would create a file F<wrap.h> which essentially looks like this:
		3141
		3142	#define ev_backend myprefix_ev_backend
		3143	#define ev_check_start myprefix_ev_check_start
		3144	#define ev_check_stop myprefix_ev_check_stop
		3145	...
2110		3146
2111	=head2 EXAMPLES	3147	=head2 EXAMPLES
2112		3148
2113	For a real-world example of a program the includes libev	3149	For a real-world example of a program the includes libev
2114	verbatim, you can have a look at the EV perl module	3150	verbatim, you can have a look at the EV perl module
…		…
2117	interface) and F<EV.xs> (implementation) files. Only the F<EV.xs> file	3153	interface) and F<EV.xs> (implementation) files. Only the F<EV.xs> file
2118	will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header	3154	will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header
2119	file.	3155	file.
2120		3156
2121	The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file	3157	The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file
2122	that everybody includes and which overrides some autoconf choices:	3158	that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:
2123		3159
		3160	#define EV_MINIMAL 1
2124	#define EV_USE_POLL 0	3161	#define EV_USE_POLL 0
2125	#define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0	3162	#define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
2126	#define EV_PERIODICS 0	3163	#define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0
		3164	#define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0
		3165	#define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0
2127	#define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>	3166	#define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>
		3167	#define EV_MINPRI 0
		3168	#define EV_MAXPRI 0
2128		3169
2129	#include "ev++.h"	3170	#include "ev++.h"
2130		3171
2131	And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:	3172	And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:
2132		3173
2133	#include "ev_cpp.h"	3174	#include "ev_cpp.h"
2134	#include "ev.c"	3175	#include "ev.c"
		3176
		3177
		3178	=head1 THREADS AND COROUTINES
		3179
		3180	=head2 THREADS
		3181
		3182	Libev itself is completely thread-safe, but it uses no locking. This
		3183	means that you can use as many loops as you want in parallel, as long as
		3184	only one thread ever calls into one libev function with the same loop
		3185	parameter.
		3186
		3187	Or put differently: calls with different loop parameters can be done in
		3188	parallel from multiple threads, calls with the same loop parameter must be
		3189	done serially (but can be done from different threads, as long as only one
		3190	thread ever is inside a call at any point in time, e.g. by using a mutex
		3191	per loop).
		3192
		3193	If you want to know which design is best for your problem, then I cannot
		3194	help you but by giving some generic advice:
		3195
		3196	=over 4
		3197
		3198	=item * most applications have a main thread: use the default libev loop
		3199	in that thread, or create a separate thread running only the default loop.
		3200
		3201	This helps integrating other libraries or software modules that use libev
		3202	themselves and don't care/know about threading.
		3203
		3204	=item * one loop per thread is usually a good model.
		3205
		3206	Doing this is almost never wrong, sometimes a better-performance model
		3207	exists, but it is always a good start.
		3208
		3209	=item * other models exist, such as the leader/follower pattern, where one
		3210	loop is handed through multiple threads in a kind of round-robin fashion.
		3211
		3212	Choosing a model is hard - look around, learn, know that usually you can do
		3213	better than you currently do :-)
		3214
		3215	=item * often you need to talk to some other thread which blocks in the
		3216	event loop - C<ev_async> watchers can be used to wake them up from other
		3217	threads safely (or from signal contexts...).
		3218
		3219	=back
		3220
		3221	=head2 COROUTINES
		3222
		3223	Libev is much more accommodating to coroutines ("cooperative threads"):
		3224	libev fully supports nesting calls to it's functions from different
		3225	coroutines (e.g. you can call C<ev_loop> on the same loop from two
		3226	different coroutines and switch freely between both coroutines running the
		3227	loop, as long as you don't confuse yourself). The only exception is that
		3228	you must not do this from C<ev_periodic> reschedule callbacks.
		3229
		3230	Care has been invested into making sure that libev does not keep local
		3231	state inside C<ev_loop>, and other calls do not usually allow coroutine
		3232	switches.
2135		3233
2136		3234
2137	=head1 COMPLEXITIES	3235	=head1 COMPLEXITIES
2138		3236
2139	In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside	3237	In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
2140	libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the	3238	libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the
2141	documentation for C<ev_default_init>.	3239	documentation for C<ev_default_init>.
2142		3240
		3241	All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be
		3242	extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this
		3243	happens asymptotically never with higher number of elements, so O(1) might
		3244	mean it might do a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on average
		3245	it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.
		3246
2143	=over 4	3247	=over 4
2144		3248
2145	=item Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)	3249	=item Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)
2146		3250
		3251	This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and
		3252	there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that then inserting will
		3253	have to skip roughly seven (C<ld 100>) of these watchers.
		3254
2147	=item Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat, again): O(log skipped_other_timers)	3255	=item Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat or calling again): O(log skipped_other_timers)
2148		3256
		3257	That means that changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them
		3258	as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.
		3259
2149	=item Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child watchers: O(1)	3260	=item Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child/fork/async watchers: O(1)
2150		3261
		3262	These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.
		3263
2151	=item Stopping check/prepare/idle watchers: O(1)	3264	=item Stopping check/prepare/idle/fork/async watchers: O(1)
2152		3265
2153	=item Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % 16))	3266	=item Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))
2154		3267
		3268	These watchers are stored in lists then need to be walked to find the
		3269	correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually
		3270	have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal).
		3271
2155	=item Finding the next timer per loop iteration: O(1)	3272	=item Finding the next timer in each loop iteration: O(1)
		3273
		3274	By virtue of using a binary or 4-heap, the next timer is always found at a
		3275	fixed position in the storage array.
2156		3276
2157	=item Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)	3277	=item Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)
2158		3278
2159	=item Activating one watcher: O(1)	3279	A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires
		3280	libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel, depending
		3281	on backend and whether C<ev_io_set> was used).
		3282
		3283	=item Activating one watcher (putting it into the pending state): O(1)
		3284
		3285	=item Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)
		3286
		3287	Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each
		3288	priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to
		3289	linearly search all the priorities, but starting/stopping and activating
		3290	watchers becomes O(1) w.r.t. priority handling.
		3291
		3292	=item Sending an ev_async: O(1)
		3293
		3294	=item Processing ev_async_send: O(number_of_async_watchers)
		3295
		3296	=item Processing signals: O(max_signal_number)
		3297
		3298	Sending involves a system call I<iff> there were no other C<ev_async_send>
		3299	calls in the current loop iteration. Checking for async and signal events
		3300	involves iterating over all running async watchers or all signal numbers.
2160		3301
2161	=back	3302	=back
2162		3303
2163		3304
		3305	=head1 WIN32 PLATFORM LIMITATIONS AND WORKAROUNDS
		3306
		3307	Win32 doesn't support any of the standards (e.g. POSIX) that libev
		3308	requires, and its I/O model is fundamentally incompatible with the POSIX
		3309	model. Libev still offers limited functionality on this platform in
		3310	the form of the C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> backend, and only supports socket
		3311	descriptors. This only applies when using Win32 natively, not when using
		3312	e.g. cygwin.
		3313
		3314	Lifting these limitations would basically require the full
		3315	re-implementation of the I/O system. If you are into these kinds of
		3316	things, then note that glib does exactly that for you in a very portable
		3317	way (note also that glib is the slowest event library known to man).
		3318
		3319	There is no supported compilation method available on windows except
		3320	embedding it into other applications.
		3321
		3322	Not a libev limitation but worth mentioning: windows apparently doesn't
		3323	accept large writes: instead of resulting in a partial write, windows will
		3324	either accept everything or return C<ENOBUFS> if the buffer is too large,
		3325	so make sure you only write small amounts into your sockets (less than a
		3326	megabyte seems safe, but thsi apparently depends on the amount of memory
		3327	available).
		3328
		3329	Due to the many, low, and arbitrary limits on the win32 platform and
		3330	the abysmal performance of winsockets, using a large number of sockets
		3331	is not recommended (and not reasonable). If your program needs to use
		3332	more than a hundred or so sockets, then likely it needs to use a totally
		3333	different implementation for windows, as libev offers the POSIX readiness
		3334	notification model, which cannot be implemented efficiently on windows
		3335	(Microsoft monopoly games).
		3336
		3337	A typical way to use libev under windows is to embed it (see the embedding
		3338	section for details) and use the following F<evwrap.h> header file instead
		3339	of F<ev.h>:
		3340
		3341	#define EV_STANDALONE /* keeps ev from requiring config.h */
		3342	#define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* configure libev for windows select */
		3343
		3344	#include "ev.h"
		3345
		3346	And compile the following F<evwrap.c> file into your project (make sure
		3347	you do I<not> compile the F<ev.c> or any other embedded soruce files!):
		3348
		3349	#include "evwrap.h"
		3350	#include "ev.c"
		3351
		3352	=over 4
		3353
		3354	=item The winsocket select function
		3355
		3356	The winsocket C<select> function doesn't follow POSIX in that it
		3357	requires socket I<handles> and not socket I<file descriptors> (it is
		3358	also extremely buggy). This makes select very inefficient, and also
		3359	requires a mapping from file descriptors to socket handles (the Microsoft
		3360	C runtime provides the function C<_open_osfhandle> for this). See the
		3361	discussion of the C<EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET>, C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> and
		3362	C<EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE> preprocessor symbols for more info.
		3363
		3364	The configuration for a "naked" win32 using the Microsoft runtime
		3365	libraries and raw winsocket select is:
		3366
		3367	#define EV_USE_SELECT 1
		3368	#define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* forces EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET, too */
		3369
		3370	Note that winsockets handling of fd sets is O(n), so you can easily get a
		3371	complexity in the O(n²) range when using win32.
		3372
		3373	=item Limited number of file descriptors
		3374
		3375	Windows has numerous arbitrary (and low) limits on things.
		3376
		3377	Early versions of winsocket's select only supported waiting for a maximum
		3378	of C<64> handles (probably owning to the fact that all windows kernels
		3379	can only wait for C<64> things at the same time internally; Microsoft
		3380	recommends spawning a chain of threads and wait for 63 handles and the
		3381	previous thread in each. Great).
		3382
		3383	Newer versions support more handles, but you need to define C<FD_SETSIZE>
		3384	to some high number (e.g. C<2048>) before compiling the winsocket select
		3385	call (which might be in libev or elsewhere, for example, perl does its own
		3386	select emulation on windows).
		3387
		3388	Another limit is the number of file descriptors in the Microsoft runtime
		3389	libraries, which by default is C<64> (there must be a hidden I<64> fetish
		3390	or something like this inside Microsoft). You can increase this by calling
		3391	C<_setmaxstdio>, which can increase this limit to C<2048> (another
		3392	arbitrary limit), but is broken in many versions of the Microsoft runtime
		3393	libraries.
		3394
		3395	This might get you to about C<512> or C<2048> sockets (depending on
		3396	windows version and/or the phase of the moon). To get more, you need to
		3397	wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but the cost of
		3398	calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable.
		3399
		3400	=back
		3401
		3402
		3403	=head1 PORTABILITY REQUIREMENTS
		3404
		3405	In addition to a working ISO-C implementation, libev relies on a few
		3406	additional extensions:
		3407
		3408	=over 4
		3409
		3410	=item C<void (*)(ev_watcher_type *, int revents)> must have compatible
		3411	calling conventions regardless of C<ev_watcher_type *>.
		3412
		3413	Libev assumes not only that all watcher pointers have the same internal
		3414	structure (guaranteed by POSIX but not by ISO C for example), but it also
		3415	assumes that the same (machine) code can be used to call any watcher
		3416	callback: The watcher callbacks have different type signatures, but libev
		3417	calls them using an C<ev_watcher *> internally.
		3418
		3419	=item C<sig_atomic_t volatile> must be thread-atomic as well
		3420
		3421	The type C<sig_atomic_t volatile> (or whatever is defined as
		3422	C<EV_ATOMIC_T>) must be atomic w.r.t. accesses from different
		3423	threads. This is not part of the specification for C<sig_atomic_t>, but is
		3424	believed to be sufficiently portable.
		3425
		3426	=item C<sigprocmask> must work in a threaded environment
		3427
		3428	Libev uses C<sigprocmask> to temporarily block signals. This is not
		3429	allowed in a threaded program (C<pthread_sigmask> has to be used). Typical
		3430	pthread implementations will either allow C<sigprocmask> in the "main
		3431	thread" or will block signals process-wide, both behaviours would
		3432	be compatible with libev. Interaction between C<sigprocmask> and
		3433	C<pthread_sigmask> could complicate things, however.
		3434
		3435	The most portable way to handle signals is to block signals in all threads
		3436	except the initial one, and run the default loop in the initial thread as
		3437	well.
		3438
		3439	=item C<long> must be large enough for common memory allocation sizes
		3440
		3441	To improve portability and simplify using libev, libev uses C<long>
		3442	internally instead of C<size_t> when allocating its data structures. On
		3443	non-POSIX systems (Microsoft...) this might be unexpectedly low, but
		3444	is still at least 31 bits everywhere, which is enough for hundreds of
		3445	millions of watchers.
		3446
		3447	=item C<double> must hold a time value in seconds with enough accuracy
		3448
		3449	The type C<double> is used to represent timestamps. It is required to
		3450	have at least 51 bits of mantissa (and 9 bits of exponent), which is good
		3451	enough for at least into the year 4000. This requirement is fulfilled by
		3452	implementations implementing IEEE 754 (basically all existing ones).
		3453
		3454	=back
		3455
		3456	If you know of other additional requirements drop me a note.
		3457
		3458
		3459	=head1 COMPILER WARNINGS
		3460
		3461	Depending on your compiler and compiler settings, you might get no or a
		3462	lot of warnings when compiling libev code. Some people are apparently
		3463	scared by this.
		3464
		3465	However, these are unavoidable for many reasons. For one, each compiler
		3466	has different warnings, and each user has different tastes regarding
		3467	warning options. "Warn-free" code therefore cannot be a goal except when
		3468	targeting a specific compiler and compiler-version.
		3469
		3470	Another reason is that some compiler warnings require elaborate
		3471	workarounds, or other changes to the code that make it less clear and less
		3472	maintainable.
		3473
		3474	And of course, some compiler warnings are just plain stupid, or simply
		3475	wrong (because they don't actually warn about the condition their message
		3476	seems to warn about).
		3477
		3478	While libev is written to generate as few warnings as possible,
		3479	"warn-free" code is not a goal, and it is recommended not to build libev
		3480	with any compiler warnings enabled unless you are prepared to cope with
		3481	them (e.g. by ignoring them). Remember that warnings are just that:
		3482	warnings, not errors, or proof of bugs.
		3483
		3484
		3485	=head1 VALGRIND
		3486
		3487	Valgrind has a special section here because it is a popular tool that is
		3488	highly useful, but valgrind reports are very hard to interpret.
		3489
		3490	If you think you found a bug (memory leak, uninitialised data access etc.)
		3491	in libev, then check twice: If valgrind reports something like:
		3492
		3493	==2274== definitely lost: 0 bytes in 0 blocks.
		3494	==2274== possibly lost: 0 bytes in 0 blocks.
		3495	==2274== still reachable: 256 bytes in 1 blocks.
		3496
		3497	Then there is no memory leak. Similarly, under some circumstances,
		3498	valgrind might report kernel bugs as if it were a bug in libev, or it
		3499	might be confused (it is a very good tool, but only a tool).
		3500
		3501	If you are unsure about something, feel free to contact the mailing list
		3502	with the full valgrind report and an explanation on why you think this is
		3503	a bug in libev. However, don't be annoyed when you get a brisk "this is
		3504	no bug" answer and take the chance of learning how to interpret valgrind
		3505	properly.
		3506
		3507	If you need, for some reason, empty reports from valgrind for your project
		3508	I suggest using suppression lists.
		3509
		3510
2164	=head1 AUTHOR	3511	=head1 AUTHOR
2165		3512
2166	Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>.	3513	Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>.
2167		3514

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