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Comparing libev/ev.pod (file contents):
Revision 1.186 by root, Wed Sep 24 07:56:14 2008 UTC vs.
Revision 1.190 by root, Tue Sep 30 19:34:14 2008 UTC

1625 1625
1626=back 1626=back
1627 1627
1628=head3 Examples 1628=head3 Examples
1629 1629
1630Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM. 1630Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT.
1631 1631
1632 static void 1632 static void
1633 sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents) 1633 sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)
1634 { 1634 {
1635 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL); 1635 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
1636 } 1636 }
1637 1637
1638 struct ev_signal signal_watcher; 1638 struct ev_signal signal_watcher;
1639 ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT); 1639 ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);
1640 ev_signal_start (loop, &sigint_cb); 1640 ev_signal_start (loop, &signal_watcher);
1641 1641
1642 1642
1643=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes 1643=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes
1644 1644
1645Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to 1645Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to
2242So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared 2242So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared
2243that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around 2243that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around
2244this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to 2244this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to
2245create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything. 2245create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything.
2246 2246
2247=head3 C<ev_embed> and fork
2248
2249While the C<ev_embed> watcher is running, forks in the embedding loop will
2250automatically be applied to the embedded loop as well, so no special
2251fork handling is required in that case. When the watcher is not running,
2252however, it is still the task of the libev user to call C<ev_loop_fork ()>
2253as applicable.
2254
2247=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members 2255=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2248 2256
2249=over 4 2257=over 4
2250 2258
2251=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop) 2259=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
3298And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled: 3306And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:
3299 3307
3300 #include "ev_cpp.h" 3308 #include "ev_cpp.h"
3301 #include "ev.c" 3309 #include "ev.c"
3302 3310
3311=head1 INTERACTION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS OR LIBRARIES
3303 3312
3304=head1 THREADS AND COROUTINES 3313=head2 THREADS AND COROUTINES
3305 3314
3306=head2 THREADS 3315=head3 THREADS
3307 3316
3308All libev functions are reentrant and thread-safe unless explicitly 3317All libev functions are reentrant and thread-safe unless explicitly
3309documented otherwise, but it uses no locking itself. This means that you 3318documented otherwise, but it uses no locking itself. This means that you
3310can use as many loops as you want in parallel, as long as there are no 3319can use as many loops as you want in parallel, as long as there are no
3311concurrent calls into any libev function with the same loop parameter 3320concurrent calls into any libev function with the same loop parameter
3358default loop and triggering an C<ev_async> watcher from the default loop 3367default loop and triggering an C<ev_async> watcher from the default loop
3359watcher callback into the event loop interested in the signal. 3368watcher callback into the event loop interested in the signal.
3360 3369
3361=back 3370=back
3362 3371
3363=head2 COROUTINES 3372=head3 COROUTINES
3364 3373
3365Libev is much more accommodating to coroutines ("cooperative threads"): 3374Libev is much more accommodating to coroutines ("cooperative threads"):
3366libev fully supports nesting calls to it's functions from different 3375libev fully supports nesting calls to it's functions from different
3367coroutines (e.g. you can call C<ev_loop> on the same loop from two 3376coroutines (e.g. you can call C<ev_loop> on the same loop from two
3368different coroutines and switch freely between both coroutines running the 3377different coroutines and switch freely between both coroutines running the
3370you must not do this from C<ev_periodic> reschedule callbacks. 3379you must not do this from C<ev_periodic> reschedule callbacks.
3371 3380
3372Care has been taken to ensure that libev does not keep local state inside 3381Care has been taken to ensure that libev does not keep local state inside
3373C<ev_loop>, and other calls do not usually allow coroutine switches. 3382C<ev_loop>, and other calls do not usually allow coroutine switches.
3374 3383
3384=head2 COMPILER WARNINGS
3385
3386Depending on your compiler and compiler settings, you might get no or a
3387lot of warnings when compiling libev code. Some people are apparently
3388scared by this.
3389
3390However, these are unavoidable for many reasons. For one, each compiler
3391has different warnings, and each user has different tastes regarding
3392warning options. "Warn-free" code therefore cannot be a goal except when
3393targeting a specific compiler and compiler-version.
3394
3395Another reason is that some compiler warnings require elaborate
3396workarounds, or other changes to the code that make it less clear and less
3397maintainable.
3398
3399And of course, some compiler warnings are just plain stupid, or simply
3400wrong (because they don't actually warn about the condition their message
3401seems to warn about). For example, certain older gcc versions had some
3402warnings that resulted an extreme number of false positives. These have
3403been fixed, but some people still insist on making code warn-free with
3404such buggy versions.
3405
3406While libev is written to generate as few warnings as possible,
3407"warn-free" code is not a goal, and it is recommended not to build libev
3408with any compiler warnings enabled unless you are prepared to cope with
3409them (e.g. by ignoring them). Remember that warnings are just that:
3410warnings, not errors, or proof of bugs.
3411
3412
3413=head2 VALGRIND
3414
3415Valgrind has a special section here because it is a popular tool that is
3416highly useful. Unfortunately, valgrind reports are very hard to interpret.
3417
3418If you think you found a bug (memory leak, uninitialised data access etc.)
3419in libev, then check twice: If valgrind reports something like:
3420
3421 ==2274== definitely lost: 0 bytes in 0 blocks.
3422 ==2274== possibly lost: 0 bytes in 0 blocks.
3423 ==2274== still reachable: 256 bytes in 1 blocks.
3424
3425Then there is no memory leak, just as memory accounted to global variables
3426is not a memleak - the memory is still being refernced, and didn't leak.
3427
3428Similarly, under some circumstances, valgrind might report kernel bugs
3429as if it were a bug in libev (e.g. in realloc or in the poll backend,
3430although an acceptable workaround has been found here), or it might be
3431confused.
3432
3433Keep in mind that valgrind is a very good tool, but only a tool. Don't
3434make it into some kind of religion.
3435
3436If you are unsure about something, feel free to contact the mailing list
3437with the full valgrind report and an explanation on why you think this
3438is a bug in libev (best check the archives, too :). However, don't be
3439annoyed when you get a brisk "this is no bug" answer and take the chance
3440of learning how to interpret valgrind properly.
3441
3442If you need, for some reason, empty reports from valgrind for your project
3443I suggest using suppression lists.
3444
3445
3375 3446
3376=head1 COMPLEXITIES 3447=head1 COMPLEXITIES
3377 3448
3378In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside 3449In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
3379libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the 3450libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the
3441involves iterating over all running async watchers or all signal numbers. 3512involves iterating over all running async watchers or all signal numbers.
3442 3513
3443=back 3514=back
3444 3515
3445 3516
3517=head1 PORTABILITY NOTES
3518
3446=head1 WIN32 PLATFORM LIMITATIONS AND WORKAROUNDS 3519=head2 WIN32 PLATFORM LIMITATIONS AND WORKAROUNDS
3447 3520
3448Win32 doesn't support any of the standards (e.g. POSIX) that libev 3521Win32 doesn't support any of the standards (e.g. POSIX) that libev
3449requires, and its I/O model is fundamentally incompatible with the POSIX 3522requires, and its I/O model is fundamentally incompatible with the POSIX
3450model. Libev still offers limited functionality on this platform in 3523model. Libev still offers limited functionality on this platform in
3451the form of the C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> backend, and only supports socket 3524the form of the C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> backend, and only supports socket
3538wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but the cost of 3611wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but the cost of
3539calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable. 3612calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable.
3540 3613
3541=back 3614=back
3542 3615
3543
3544=head1 PORTABILITY REQUIREMENTS 3616=head2 PORTABILITY REQUIREMENTS
3545 3617
3546In addition to a working ISO-C implementation, libev relies on a few 3618In addition to a working ISO-C implementation and of course the
3547additional extensions: 3619backend-specific APIs, libev relies on a few additional extensions:
3548 3620
3549=over 4 3621=over 4
3550 3622
3551=item C<void (*)(ev_watcher_type *, int revents)> must have compatible 3623=item C<void (*)(ev_watcher_type *, int revents)> must have compatible
3552calling conventions regardless of C<ev_watcher_type *>. 3624calling conventions regardless of C<ev_watcher_type *>.
3577except the initial one, and run the default loop in the initial thread as 3649except the initial one, and run the default loop in the initial thread as
3578well. 3650well.
3579 3651
3580=item C<long> must be large enough for common memory allocation sizes 3652=item C<long> must be large enough for common memory allocation sizes
3581 3653
3582To improve portability and simplify using libev, libev uses C<long> 3654To improve portability and simplify its API, libev uses C<long> internally
3583internally instead of C<size_t> when allocating its data structures. On 3655instead of C<size_t> when allocating its data structures. On non-POSIX
3584non-POSIX systems (Microsoft...) this might be unexpectedly low, but 3656systems (Microsoft...) this might be unexpectedly low, but is still at
3585is still at least 31 bits everywhere, which is enough for hundreds of 3657least 31 bits everywhere, which is enough for hundreds of millions of
3586millions of watchers. 3658watchers.
3587 3659
3588=item C<double> must hold a time value in seconds with enough accuracy 3660=item C<double> must hold a time value in seconds with enough accuracy
3589 3661
3590The type C<double> is used to represent timestamps. It is required to 3662The type C<double> is used to represent timestamps. It is required to
3591have at least 51 bits of mantissa (and 9 bits of exponent), which is good 3663have at least 51 bits of mantissa (and 9 bits of exponent), which is good
3595=back 3667=back
3596 3668
3597If you know of other additional requirements drop me a note. 3669If you know of other additional requirements drop me a note.
3598 3670
3599 3671
3600=head1 COMPILER WARNINGS
3601
3602Depending on your compiler and compiler settings, you might get no or a
3603lot of warnings when compiling libev code. Some people are apparently
3604scared by this.
3605
3606However, these are unavoidable for many reasons. For one, each compiler
3607has different warnings, and each user has different tastes regarding
3608warning options. "Warn-free" code therefore cannot be a goal except when
3609targeting a specific compiler and compiler-version.
3610
3611Another reason is that some compiler warnings require elaborate
3612workarounds, or other changes to the code that make it less clear and less
3613maintainable.
3614
3615And of course, some compiler warnings are just plain stupid, or simply
3616wrong (because they don't actually warn about the condition their message
3617seems to warn about).
3618
3619While libev is written to generate as few warnings as possible,
3620"warn-free" code is not a goal, and it is recommended not to build libev
3621with any compiler warnings enabled unless you are prepared to cope with
3622them (e.g. by ignoring them). Remember that warnings are just that:
3623warnings, not errors, or proof of bugs.
3624
3625
3626=head1 VALGRIND
3627
3628Valgrind has a special section here because it is a popular tool that is
3629highly useful, but valgrind reports are very hard to interpret.
3630
3631If you think you found a bug (memory leak, uninitialised data access etc.)
3632in libev, then check twice: If valgrind reports something like:
3633
3634 ==2274== definitely lost: 0 bytes in 0 blocks.
3635 ==2274== possibly lost: 0 bytes in 0 blocks.
3636 ==2274== still reachable: 256 bytes in 1 blocks.
3637
3638Then there is no memory leak. Similarly, under some circumstances,
3639valgrind might report kernel bugs as if it were a bug in libev, or it
3640might be confused (it is a very good tool, but only a tool).
3641
3642If you are unsure about something, feel free to contact the mailing list
3643with the full valgrind report and an explanation on why you think this is
3644a bug in libev. However, don't be annoyed when you get a brisk "this is
3645no bug" answer and take the chance of learning how to interpret valgrind
3646properly.
3647
3648If you need, for some reason, empty reports from valgrind for your project
3649I suggest using suppression lists.
3650
3651
3652=head1 AUTHOR 3672=head1 AUTHOR
3653 3673
3654Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>. 3674Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>.
3655 3675

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