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Comparing libev/ev.pod (file contents):
Revision 1.240 by root, Sat Apr 25 14:12:48 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.245 by root, Tue Jun 30 06:24:38 2009 UTC

811 811
812By setting a higher I<io collect interval> you allow libev to spend more 812By setting a higher I<io collect interval> you allow libev to spend more
813time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration, 813time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration,
814at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both C<ev_periodic> and 814at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both C<ev_periodic> and
815C<ev_timer>) will be not affected. Setting this to a non-null value will 815C<ev_timer>) will be not affected. Setting this to a non-null value will
816introduce an additional C<ev_sleep ()> call into most loop iterations. 816introduce an additional C<ev_sleep ()> call into most loop iterations. The
817sleep time ensures that libev will not poll for I/O events more often then
818once per this interval, on average.
817 819
818Likewise, by setting a higher I<timeout collect interval> you allow libev 820Likewise, by setting a higher I<timeout collect interval> you allow libev
819to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased 821to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased
820latency/jitter/inexactness (the watcher callback will be called 822latency/jitter/inexactness (the watcher callback will be called
821later). C<ev_io> watchers will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null 823later). C<ev_io> watchers will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null
823 825
824Many (busy) programs can usually benefit by setting the I/O collect 826Many (busy) programs can usually benefit by setting the I/O collect
825interval to a value near C<0.1> or so, which is often enough for 827interval to a value near C<0.1> or so, which is often enough for
826interactive servers (of course not for games), likewise for timeouts. It 828interactive servers (of course not for games), likewise for timeouts. It
827usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than C<0.01>, 829usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than C<0.01>,
828as this approaches the timing granularity of most systems. 830as this approaches the timing granularity of most systems. Note that if
831you do transactions with the outside world and you can't increase the
832parallelity, then this setting will limit your transaction rate (if you
833need to poll once per transaction and the I/O collect interval is 0.01,
834then you can't do more than 100 transations per second).
829 835
830Setting the I<timeout collect interval> can improve the opportunity for 836Setting the I<timeout collect interval> can improve the opportunity for
831saving power, as the program will "bundle" timer callback invocations that 837saving power, as the program will "bundle" timer callback invocations that
832are "near" in time together, by delaying some, thus reducing the number of 838are "near" in time together, by delaying some, thus reducing the number of
833times the process sleeps and wakes up again. Another useful technique to 839times the process sleeps and wakes up again. Another useful technique to
834reduce iterations/wake-ups is to use C<ev_periodic> watchers and make sure 840reduce iterations/wake-ups is to use C<ev_periodic> watchers and make sure
835they fire on, say, one-second boundaries only. 841they fire on, say, one-second boundaries only.
842
843Example: we only need 0.1s timeout granularity, and we wish not to poll
844more often than 100 times per second:
845
846 ev_set_timeout_collect_interval (EV_DEFAULT_UC_ 0.1);
847 ev_set_io_collect_interval (EV_DEFAULT_UC_ 0.01);
836 848
837=item ev_loop_verify (loop) 849=item ev_loop_verify (loop)
838 850
839This function only does something when C<EV_VERIFY> support has been 851This function only does something when C<EV_VERIFY> support has been
840compiled in, which is the default for non-minimal builds. It tries to go 852compiled in, which is the default for non-minimal builds. It tries to go
1184 #include <stddef.h> 1196 #include <stddef.h>
1185 1197
1186 static void 1198 static void
1187 t1_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents) 1199 t1_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1188 { 1200 {
1189 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy * 1201 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *)
1190 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1)); 1202 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
1191 } 1203 }
1192 1204
1193 static void 1205 static void
1194 t2_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents) 1206 t2_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1195 { 1207 {
1196 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy * 1208 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *)
1197 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2)); 1209 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
1198 } 1210 }
1199 1211
1200=head2 WATCHER PRIORITY MODELS 1212=head2 WATCHER PRIORITY MODELS
1201 1213
1277 // with the default priority are receiving events. 1289 // with the default priority are receiving events.
1278 ev_idle_start (EV_A_ &idle); 1290 ev_idle_start (EV_A_ &idle);
1279 } 1291 }
1280 1292
1281 static void 1293 static void
1282 idle-cb (EV_P_ ev_idle *w, int revents) 1294 idle_cb (EV_P_ ev_idle *w, int revents)
1283 { 1295 {
1284 // actual processing 1296 // actual processing
1285 read (STDIN_FILENO, ...); 1297 read (STDIN_FILENO, ...);
1286 1298
1287 // have to start the I/O watcher again, as 1299 // have to start the I/O watcher again, as
1523C<after> argument to C<ev_timer_set>, and only ever use the C<repeat> 1535C<after> argument to C<ev_timer_set>, and only ever use the C<repeat>
1524member and C<ev_timer_again>. 1536member and C<ev_timer_again>.
1525 1537
1526At start: 1538At start:
1527 1539
1528 ev_timer_init (timer, callback); 1540 ev_init (timer, callback);
1529 timer->repeat = 60.; 1541 timer->repeat = 60.;
1530 ev_timer_again (loop, timer); 1542 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1531 1543
1532Each time there is some activity: 1544Each time there is some activity:
1533 1545
1595 1607
1596To start the timer, simply initialise the watcher and set C<last_activity> 1608To start the timer, simply initialise the watcher and set C<last_activity>
1597to the current time (meaning we just have some activity :), then call the 1609to the current time (meaning we just have some activity :), then call the
1598callback, which will "do the right thing" and start the timer: 1610callback, which will "do the right thing" and start the timer:
1599 1611
1600 ev_timer_init (timer, callback); 1612 ev_init (timer, callback);
1601 last_activity = ev_now (loop); 1613 last_activity = ev_now (loop);
1602 callback (loop, timer, EV_TIMEOUT); 1614 callback (loop, timer, EV_TIMEOUT);
1603 1615
1604And when there is some activity, simply store the current time in 1616And when there is some activity, simply store the current time in
1605C<last_activity>, no libev calls at all: 1617C<last_activity>, no libev calls at all:
2002some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies or 2014some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies or
2003exits). It is permissible to install a child watcher I<after> the child 2015exits). It is permissible to install a child watcher I<after> the child
2004has been forked (which implies it might have already exited), as long 2016has been forked (which implies it might have already exited), as long
2005as the event loop isn't entered (or is continued from a watcher), i.e., 2017as the event loop isn't entered (or is continued from a watcher), i.e.,
2006forking and then immediately registering a watcher for the child is fine, 2018forking and then immediately registering a watcher for the child is fine,
2007but forking and registering a watcher a few event loop iterations later is 2019but forking and registering a watcher a few event loop iterations later or
2008not. 2020in the next callback invocation is not.
2009 2021
2010Only the default event loop is capable of handling signals, and therefore 2022Only the default event loop is capable of handling signals, and therefore
2011you can only register child watchers in the default event loop. 2023you can only register child watchers in the default event loop.
2012 2024
2013=head3 Process Interaction 2025=head3 Process Interaction
2368 // no longer anything immediate to do. 2380 // no longer anything immediate to do.
2369 } 2381 }
2370 2382
2371 ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (ev_idle)); 2383 ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (ev_idle));
2372 ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb); 2384 ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);
2373 ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb); 2385 ev_idle_start (loop, idle_watcher);
2374 2386
2375 2387
2376=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop! 2388=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!
2377 2389
2378Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in pairs: 2390Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in pairs:
2471 struct pollfd fds [nfd]; 2483 struct pollfd fds [nfd];
2472 // actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc. 2484 // actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
2473 adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ())); 2485 adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
2474 2486
2475 /* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */ 2487 /* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
2476 ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3); 2488 ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3, 0.);
2477 ev_timer_start (loop, &tw); 2489 ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);
2478 2490
2479 // create one ev_io per pollfd 2491 // create one ev_io per pollfd
2480 for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i) 2492 for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
2481 { 2493 {
3935way (note also that glib is the slowest event library known to man). 3947way (note also that glib is the slowest event library known to man).
3936 3948
3937There is no supported compilation method available on windows except 3949There is no supported compilation method available on windows except
3938embedding it into other applications. 3950embedding it into other applications.
3939 3951
3952Sensible signal handling is officially unsupported by Microsoft - libev
3953tries its best, but under most conditions, signals will simply not work.
3954
3940Not a libev limitation but worth mentioning: windows apparently doesn't 3955Not a libev limitation but worth mentioning: windows apparently doesn't
3941accept large writes: instead of resulting in a partial write, windows will 3956accept large writes: instead of resulting in a partial write, windows will
3942either accept everything or return C<ENOBUFS> if the buffer is too large, 3957either accept everything or return C<ENOBUFS> if the buffer is too large,
3943so make sure you only write small amounts into your sockets (less than a 3958so make sure you only write small amounts into your sockets (less than a
3944megabyte seems safe, but this apparently depends on the amount of memory 3959megabyte seems safe, but this apparently depends on the amount of memory
3948the abysmal performance of winsockets, using a large number of sockets 3963the abysmal performance of winsockets, using a large number of sockets
3949is not recommended (and not reasonable). If your program needs to use 3964is not recommended (and not reasonable). If your program needs to use
3950more than a hundred or so sockets, then likely it needs to use a totally 3965more than a hundred or so sockets, then likely it needs to use a totally
3951different implementation for windows, as libev offers the POSIX readiness 3966different implementation for windows, as libev offers the POSIX readiness
3952notification model, which cannot be implemented efficiently on windows 3967notification model, which cannot be implemented efficiently on windows
3953(Microsoft monopoly games). 3968(due to Microsoft monopoly games).
3954 3969
3955A typical way to use libev under windows is to embed it (see the embedding 3970A typical way to use libev under windows is to embed it (see the embedding
3956section for details) and use the following F<evwrap.h> header file instead 3971section for details) and use the following F<evwrap.h> header file instead
3957of F<ev.h>: 3972of F<ev.h>:
3958 3973
3994 4009
3995Early versions of winsocket's select only supported waiting for a maximum 4010Early versions of winsocket's select only supported waiting for a maximum
3996of C<64> handles (probably owning to the fact that all windows kernels 4011of C<64> handles (probably owning to the fact that all windows kernels
3997can only wait for C<64> things at the same time internally; Microsoft 4012can only wait for C<64> things at the same time internally; Microsoft
3998recommends spawning a chain of threads and wait for 63 handles and the 4013recommends spawning a chain of threads and wait for 63 handles and the
3999previous thread in each. Great). 4014previous thread in each. Sounds great!).
4000 4015
4001Newer versions support more handles, but you need to define C<FD_SETSIZE> 4016Newer versions support more handles, but you need to define C<FD_SETSIZE>
4002to some high number (e.g. C<2048>) before compiling the winsocket select 4017to some high number (e.g. C<2048>) before compiling the winsocket select
4003call (which might be in libev or elsewhere, for example, perl does its own 4018call (which might be in libev or elsewhere, for example, perl and many
4004select emulation on windows). 4019other interpreters do their own select emulation on windows).
4005 4020
4006Another limit is the number of file descriptors in the Microsoft runtime 4021Another limit is the number of file descriptors in the Microsoft runtime
4007libraries, which by default is C<64> (there must be a hidden I<64> fetish 4022libraries, which by default is C<64> (there must be a hidden I<64>
4008or something like this inside Microsoft). You can increase this by calling 4023fetish or something like this inside Microsoft). You can increase this
4009C<_setmaxstdio>, which can increase this limit to C<2048> (another 4024by calling C<_setmaxstdio>, which can increase this limit to C<2048>
4010arbitrary limit), but is broken in many versions of the Microsoft runtime 4025(another arbitrary limit), but is broken in many versions of the Microsoft
4011libraries.
4012
4013This might get you to about C<512> or C<2048> sockets (depending on 4026runtime libraries. This might get you to about C<512> or C<2048> sockets
4014windows version and/or the phase of the moon). To get more, you need to 4027(depending on windows version and/or the phase of the moon). To get more,
4015wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but the cost of 4028you need to wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but
4016calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable. 4029the cost of calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable.
4017 4030
4018=back 4031=back
4019 4032
4020=head2 PORTABILITY REQUIREMENTS 4033=head2 PORTABILITY REQUIREMENTS
4021 4034

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