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Revision 1.263 by root, Mon Jul 27 01:10:17 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.273 by root, Tue Nov 24 14:46:59 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
1233watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>. 1236watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>.
1234 1237
1235Sometimes it can be useful to "poll" a watcher instead of waiting for its 1238Sometimes it can be useful to "poll" a watcher instead of waiting for its
1236callback to be invoked, which can be accomplished with this function. 1239callback to be invoked, which can be accomplished with this function.
1237 1240
1241=item ev_feed_event (struct ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)
1242
1243Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
1244had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
1245initialised but not necessarily started event watcher). Obviously you must
1246not free the watcher as long as it has pending events.
1247
1248Stopping the watcher, letting libev invoke it, or calling
1249C<ev_clear_pending> will clear the pending event, even if the watcher was
1250not started in the first place.
1251
1252See also C<ev_feed_fd_event> and C<ev_feed_signal_event> for related
1253functions that do not need a watcher.
1254
1238=back 1255=back
1239 1256
1240 1257
1241=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER 1258=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER
1242 1259
2108 2125
2109When the first watcher gets started will libev actually register something 2126When the first watcher gets started will libev actually register something
2110with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long as 2127with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long as
2111you don't register any with libev for the same signal). 2128you don't register any with libev for the same signal).
2112 2129
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 2130If possible and supported, libev will install its handlers with
2119C<SA_RESTART> (or equivalent) behaviour enabled, so system calls should 2131C<SA_RESTART> (or equivalent) behaviour enabled, so system calls should
2120not be unduly interrupted. If you have a problem with system calls getting 2132not 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 2133interrupted by signals you can block all signals in an C<ev_check> watcher
2122and unblock them in an C<ev_prepare> watcher. 2134and unblock them in an C<ev_prepare> watcher.
2135
2136=head3 The special problem of inheritance over execve
2137
2138Both the signal mask (C<sigprocmask>) and the signal disposition
2139(C<sigaction>) are unspecified after starting a signal watcher (and after
2140stopping it again), that is, libev might or might not block the signal,
2141and might or might not set or restore the installed signal handler.
2142
2143While this does not matter for the signal disposition (libev never
2144sets signals to C<SIG_IGN>, so handlers will be reset to C<SIG_DFL> on
2145C<execve>), this matters for the signal mask: many programs do not expect
2146certain signals to be blocked.
2147
2148This means that before calling C<exec> (from the child) you should reset
2149the signal mask to whatever "default" you expect (all clear is a good
2150choice usually).
2151
2152The simplest way to ensure that the signal mask is reset in the child is
2153to install a fork handler with C<pthread_atfork> that resets it. That will
2154catch fork calls done by libraries (such as the libc) as well.
2155
2156In current versions of libev, you can also ensure that the signal mask is
2157not blocking any signals (except temporarily, so thread users watch out)
2158by specifying the C<EVFLAG_NOSIGFD> when creating the event loop. This
2159is not guaranteed for future versions, however.
2123 2160
2124=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members 2161=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2125 2162
2126=over 4 2163=over 4
2127 2164
3112 /* doh, nothing entered */; 3149 /* doh, nothing entered */;
3113 } 3150 }
3114 3151
3115 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0); 3152 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);
3116 3153
3117=item ev_feed_event (struct ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)
3118
3119Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
3120had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
3121initialised but not necessarily started event watcher).
3122
3123=item ev_feed_fd_event (struct ev_loop *, int fd, int revents) 3154=item ev_feed_fd_event (struct ev_loop *, int fd, int revents)
3124 3155
3125Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected 3156Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
3126the given events it. 3157the given events it.
3127 3158
3663be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call 3694be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
3664C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise, 3695C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,
3665it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even 3696it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
3666on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms. 3697on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.
3667 3698
3668=item EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE 3699=item EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE(fd)
3669 3700
3670If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> is enabled, then libev needs a way to map 3701If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> is enabled, then libev needs a way to map
3671file descriptors to socket handles. When not defining this symbol (the 3702file descriptors to socket handles. When not defining this symbol (the
3672default), then libev will call C<_get_osfhandle>, which is usually 3703default), then libev will call C<_get_osfhandle>, which is usually
3673correct. In some cases, programs use their own file descriptor management, 3704correct. In some cases, programs use their own file descriptor management,
3674in which case they can provide this function to map fds to socket handles. 3705in which case they can provide this function to map fds to socket handles.
3706
3707=item EV_WIN32_HANDLE_TO_FD(handle)
3708
3709If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> then libev maps handles to file descriptors
3710using the standard C<_open_osfhandle> function. For programs implementing
3711their own fd to handle mapping, overwriting this function makes it easier
3712to do so. This can be done by defining this macro to an appropriate value.
3713
3714=item EV_WIN32_CLOSE_FD(fd)
3715
3716If programs implement their own fd to handle mapping on win32, then this
3717macro can be used to override the C<close> function, useful to unregister
3718file descriptors again. Note that the replacement function has to close
3719the underlying OS handle.
3675 3720
3676=item EV_USE_POLL 3721=item EV_USE_POLL
3677 3722
3678If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2) 3723If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)
3679backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It 3724backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It

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