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Revision 1.261 by root, Mon Jul 20 04:18:20 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.272 by root, Tue Nov 24 06:39:28 2009 UTC

370When this flag is specified, then libev will not attempt to use the 370When this flag is specified, then libev will not attempt to use the
371I<inotify> API for it's C<ev_stat> watchers. Apart from debugging and 371I<inotify> API for it's C<ev_stat> watchers. Apart from debugging and
372testing, this flag can be useful to conserve inotify file descriptors, as 372testing, this flag can be useful to conserve inotify file descriptors, as
373otherwise each loop using C<ev_stat> watchers consumes one inotify handle. 373otherwise each loop using C<ev_stat> watchers consumes one inotify handle.
374 374
375=item C<EVFLAG_NOSIGNALFD> 375=item C<EVFLAG_NOSIGFD>
376 376
377When this flag is specified, then libev will not attempt to use the 377When this flag is specified, then libev will not attempt to use the
378I<signalfd> API for it's C<ev_signal> (and C<ev_child>) watchers. This is 378I<signalfd> API for it's C<ev_signal> (and C<ev_child>) watchers. This is
379probably only useful to work around any bugs in libev. Consequently, this 379probably only useful to work around any bugs in libev. Consequently, this
380flag might go away once the signalfd functionality is considered stable, 380flag might go away once the signalfd functionality is considered stable,
410 410
411This backend maps C<EV_READ> to C<POLLIN | POLLERR | POLLHUP>, and 411This backend maps C<EV_READ> to C<POLLIN | POLLERR | POLLHUP>, and
412C<EV_WRITE> to C<POLLOUT | POLLERR | POLLHUP>. 412C<EV_WRITE> to C<POLLOUT | POLLERR | POLLHUP>.
413 413
414=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux) 414=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)
415
416Use the linux-specific epoll(7) interface (for both pre- and post-2.6.9
417kernels).
415 418
416For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select, 419For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,
417but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale 420but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale
418like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd), 421like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd),
419epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds). 422epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds).
590as signal and child watchers) would need to be stopped manually. 593as signal and child watchers) would need to be stopped manually.
591 594
592In general it is not advisable to call this function except in the 595In general it is not advisable to call this function except in the
593rare occasion where you really need to free e.g. the signal handling 596rare occasion where you really need to free e.g. the signal handling
594pipe fds. If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use 597pipe fds. If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use
595C<ev_loop_new> and C<ev_loop_destroy>). 598C<ev_loop_new> and C<ev_loop_destroy>.
596 599
597=item ev_loop_destroy (loop) 600=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)
598 601
599Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an 602Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an
600earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>. 603earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>.
704event loop time (see C<ev_now_update>). 707event loop time (see C<ev_now_update>).
705 708
706=item ev_loop (loop, int flags) 709=item ev_loop (loop, int flags)
707 710
708Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called 711Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called
709after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling 712after you have initialised all your watchers and you want to start
710events. 713handling events.
711 714
712If the flags argument is specified as C<0>, it will not return until 715If the flags argument is specified as C<0>, it will not return until
713either no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_unloop> was called. 716either no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_unloop> was called.
714 717
715Please note that an explicit C<ev_unloop> is usually better than 718Please note that an explicit C<ev_unloop> is usually better than
2108 2111
2109When the first watcher gets started will libev actually register something 2112When the first watcher gets started will libev actually register something
2110with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long as 2113with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long as
2111you don't register any with libev for the same signal). 2114you don't register any with libev for the same signal).
2112 2115
2113Both the signal mask state (C<sigprocmask>) and the signal handler state
2114(C<sigaction>) are unspecified after starting a signal watcher (and after
2115sotpping it again), that is, libev might or might not block the signal,
2116and might or might not set or restore the installed signal handler.
2117
2118If possible and supported, libev will install its handlers with 2116If possible and supported, libev will install its handlers with
2119C<SA_RESTART> (or equivalent) behaviour enabled, so system calls should 2117C<SA_RESTART> (or equivalent) behaviour enabled, so system calls should
2120not be unduly interrupted. If you have a problem with system calls getting 2118not be unduly interrupted. If you have a problem with system calls getting
2121interrupted by signals you can block all signals in an C<ev_check> watcher 2119interrupted by signals you can block all signals in an C<ev_check> watcher
2122and unblock them in an C<ev_prepare> watcher. 2120and unblock them in an C<ev_prepare> watcher.
2121
2122=head3 The special problem of inheritance over execve
2123
2124Both the signal mask (C<sigprocmask>) and the signal disposition
2125(C<sigaction>) are unspecified after starting a signal watcher (and after
2126stopping it again), that is, libev might or might not block the signal,
2127and might or might not set or restore the installed signal handler.
2128
2129While this does not matter for the signal disposition (libev never
2130sets signals to C<SIG_IGN>, so handlers will be reset to C<SIG_DFL> on
2131C<execve>), this matters for the signal mask: many programs do not expect
2132certain signals to be blocked.
2133
2134This means that before calling C<exec> (from the child) you should reset
2135the signal mask to whatever "default" you expect (all clear is a good
2136choice usually).
2137
2138The simplest way to ensure that the signal mask is reset in the child is
2139to install a fork handler with C<pthread_atfork> that resets it. That will
2140catch fork calls done by libraries (such as the libc) as well.
2141
2142In current versions of libev, you can also ensure that the signal mask is
2143not blocking any signals (except temporarily, so thread users watch out)
2144by specifying the C<EVFLAG_NOSIGFD> when creating the event loop. This
2145is not guaranteed for future versions, however.
2123 2146
2124=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members 2147=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2125 2148
2126=over 4 2149=over 4
2127 2150
3407=item Ocaml 3430=item Ocaml
3408 3431
3409Erkki Seppala has written Ocaml bindings for libev, to be found at 3432Erkki Seppala has written Ocaml bindings for libev, to be found at
3410L<http://modeemi.cs.tut.fi/~flux/software/ocaml-ev/>. 3433L<http://modeemi.cs.tut.fi/~flux/software/ocaml-ev/>.
3411 3434
3435=item Lua
3436
3437Brian Maher has written a partial interface to libev
3438for lua (only C<ev_io> and C<ev_timer>), to be found at
3439L<http://github.com/brimworks/lua-ev>.
3440
3412=back 3441=back
3413 3442
3414 3443
3415=head1 MACRO MAGIC 3444=head1 MACRO MAGIC
3416 3445
3582keeps libev from including F<config.h>, and it also defines dummy 3611keeps libev from including F<config.h>, and it also defines dummy
3583implementations for some libevent functions (such as logging, which is not 3612implementations for some libevent functions (such as logging, which is not
3584supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in 3613supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in
3585F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone. 3614F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.
3586 3615
3587In stanbdalone mode, libev will still try to automatically deduce the 3616In standalone mode, libev will still try to automatically deduce the
3588configuration, but has to be more conservative. 3617configuration, but has to be more conservative.
3589 3618
3590=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC 3619=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC
3591 3620
3592If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the 3621If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
3657be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call 3686be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
3658C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise, 3687C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,
3659it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even 3688it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
3660on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms. 3689on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.
3661 3690
3662=item EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE 3691=item EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE(fd)
3663 3692
3664If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> is enabled, then libev needs a way to map 3693If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> is enabled, then libev needs a way to map
3665file descriptors to socket handles. When not defining this symbol (the 3694file descriptors to socket handles. When not defining this symbol (the
3666default), then libev will call C<_get_osfhandle>, which is usually 3695default), then libev will call C<_get_osfhandle>, which is usually
3667correct. In some cases, programs use their own file descriptor management, 3696correct. In some cases, programs use their own file descriptor management,
3668in which case they can provide this function to map fds to socket handles. 3697in which case they can provide this function to map fds to socket handles.
3698
3699=item EV_WIN32_HANDLE_TO_FD(handle)
3700
3701If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> then libev maps handles to file descriptors
3702using the standard C<_open_osfhandle> function. For programs implementing
3703their own fd to handle mapping, overwriting this function makes it easier
3704to do so. This can be done by defining this macro to an appropriate value.
3705
3706=item EV_WIN32_CLOSE_FD(fd)
3707
3708If programs implement their own fd to handle mapping on win32, then this
3709macro can be used to override the C<close> function, useful to unregister
3710file descriptors again. Note that the replacement function has to close
3711the underlying OS handle.
3669 3712
3670=item EV_USE_POLL 3713=item EV_USE_POLL
3671 3714
3672If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2) 3715If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)
3673backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It 3716backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It

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