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Revision 1.286 by root, Tue Mar 16 00:26:41 2010 UTC vs.
Revision 1.427 by root, Sun Apr 28 14:57:12 2013 UTC

…		…
26	puts ("stdin ready");	26	puts ("stdin ready");
27	// for one-shot events, one must manually stop the watcher	27	// for one-shot events, one must manually stop the watcher
28	// with its corresponding stop function.	28	// with its corresponding stop function.
29	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w);	29	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w);
30		30
31	// this causes all nested ev_loop's to stop iterating	31	// this causes all nested ev_run's to stop iterating
32	ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ALL);	32	ev_break (EV_A_ EVBREAK_ALL);
33	}	33	}
34		34
35	// another callback, this time for a time-out	35	// another callback, this time for a time-out
36	static void	36	static void
37	timeout_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	37	timeout_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
38	{	38	{
39	puts ("timeout");	39	puts ("timeout");
40	// this causes the innermost ev_loop to stop iterating	40	// this causes the innermost ev_run to stop iterating
41	ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ONE);	41	ev_break (EV_A_ EVBREAK_ONE);
42	}	42	}
43		43
44	int	44	int
45	main (void)	45	main (void)
46	{	46	{
47	// use the default event loop unless you have special needs	47	// use the default event loop unless you have special needs
48	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);	48	struct ev_loop *loop = EV_DEFAULT;
49		49
50	// initialise an io watcher, then start it	50	// initialise an io watcher, then start it
51	// this one will watch for stdin to become readable	51	// this one will watch for stdin to become readable
52	ev_io_init (&stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);	52	ev_io_init (&stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);
53	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);	53	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
…		…
56	// simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout	56	// simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout
57	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);	57	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
58	ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);	58	ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);
59		59
60	// now wait for events to arrive	60	// now wait for events to arrive
61	ev_loop (loop, 0);	61	ev_run (loop, 0);
62		62
63	// unloop was called, so exit	63	// break was called, so exit
64	return 0;	64	return 0;
65	}	65	}
66		66
67	=head1 ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT	67	=head1 ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
68		68
…		…
75	While this document tries to be as complete as possible in documenting	75	While this document tries to be as complete as possible in documenting
76	libev, its usage and the rationale behind its design, it is not a tutorial	76	libev, its usage and the rationale behind its design, it is not a tutorial
77	on event-based programming, nor will it introduce event-based programming	77	on event-based programming, nor will it introduce event-based programming
78	with libev.	78	with libev.
79		79
80	Familarity with event based programming techniques in general is assumed	80	Familiarity with event based programming techniques in general is assumed
81	throughout this document.	81	throughout this document.
		82
		83	=head1 WHAT TO READ WHEN IN A HURRY
		84
		85	This manual tries to be very detailed, but unfortunately, this also makes
		86	it very long. If you just want to know the basics of libev, I suggest
		87	reading L</ANATOMY OF A WATCHER>, then the L</EXAMPLE PROGRAM> above and
		88	look up the missing functions in L</GLOBAL FUNCTIONS> and the C<ev_io> and
		89	C<ev_timer> sections in L</WATCHER TYPES>.
82		90
83	=head1 ABOUT LIBEV	91	=head1 ABOUT LIBEV
84		92
85	Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a	93	Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a
86	file descriptor being readable or a timeout occurring), and it will manage	94	file descriptor being readable or a timeout occurring), and it will manage
…		…
124	this argument.	132	this argument.
125		133
126	=head2 TIME REPRESENTATION	134	=head2 TIME REPRESENTATION
127		135
128	Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing	136	Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing
129	the (fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere	137	the (fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (in practice
130	near the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This	138	somewhere near the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't
131	type is called C<ev_tstamp>, which is what you should use too. It usually	139	ask). This type is called C<ev_tstamp>, which is what you should use
132	aliases to the C<double> type in C. When you need to do any calculations	140	too. It usually aliases to the C<double> type in C. When you need to do
133	on it, you should treat it as some floating point value. Unlike the name	141	any calculations on it, you should treat it as some floating point value.
		142
134	component C<stamp> might indicate, it is also used for time differences	143	Unlike the name component C<stamp> might indicate, it is also used for
135	throughout libev.	144	time differences (e.g. delays) throughout libev.
136		145
137	=head1 ERROR HANDLING	146	=head1 ERROR HANDLING
138		147
139	Libev knows three classes of errors: operating system errors, usage errors	148	Libev knows three classes of errors: operating system errors, usage errors
140	and internal errors (bugs).	149	and internal errors (bugs).
…		…
164		173
165	=item ev_tstamp ev_time ()	174	=item ev_tstamp ev_time ()
166		175
167	Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the	176	Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the
168	C<ev_now> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp	177	C<ev_now> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp
169	you actually want to know.	178	you actually want to know. Also interesting is the combination of
		179	C<ev_now_update> and C<ev_now>.
170		180
171	=item ev_sleep (ev_tstamp interval)	181	=item ev_sleep (ev_tstamp interval)
172		182
173	Sleep for the given interval: The current thread will be blocked until	183	Sleep for the given interval: The current thread will be blocked
174	either it is interrupted or the given time interval has passed. Basically	184	until either it is interrupted or the given time interval has
		185	passed (approximately - it might return a bit earlier even if not
		186	interrupted). Returns immediately if C<< interval <= 0 >>.
		187
175	this is a sub-second-resolution C<sleep ()>.	188	Basically this is a sub-second-resolution C<sleep ()>.
		189
		190	The range of the C<interval> is limited - libev only guarantees to work
		191	with sleep times of up to one day (C<< interval <= 86400 >>).
176		192
177	=item int ev_version_major ()	193	=item int ev_version_major ()
178		194
179	=item int ev_version_minor ()	195	=item int ev_version_minor ()
180		196
…		…
191	as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually	207	as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
192	compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually	208	compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually
193	not a problem.	209	not a problem.
194		210
195	Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong	211	Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
196	version.	212	version (note, however, that this will not detect other ABI mismatches,
		213	such as LFS or reentrancy).
197		214
198	assert (("libev version mismatch",	215	assert (("libev version mismatch",
199	ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR	216	ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR
200	&& ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));	217	&& ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));
201		218
…		…
212	assert (("sorry, no epoll, no sex",	229	assert (("sorry, no epoll, no sex",
213	ev_supported_backends () & EVBACKEND_EPOLL));	230	ev_supported_backends () & EVBACKEND_EPOLL));
214		231
215	=item unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()	232	=item unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()
216		233
217	Return the set of all backends compiled into this binary of libev and also	234	Return the set of all backends compiled into this binary of libev and
218	recommended for this platform. This set is often smaller than the one	235	also recommended for this platform, meaning it will work for most file
		236	descriptor types. This set is often smaller than the one returned by
219	returned by C<ev_supported_backends>, as for example kqueue is broken on	237	C<ev_supported_backends>, as for example kqueue is broken on most BSDs
220	most BSDs and will not be auto-detected unless you explicitly request it	238	and will not be auto-detected unless you explicitly request it (assuming
221	(assuming you know what you are doing). This is the set of backends that	239	you know what you are doing). This is the set of backends that libev will
222	libev will probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.	240	probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.
223		241
224	=item unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()	242	=item unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()
225		243
226	Returns the set of backends that are embeddable in other event loops. This	244	Returns the set of backends that are embeddable in other event loops. This
227	is the theoretical, all-platform, value. To find which backends	245	value is platform-specific but can include backends not available on the
228	might be supported on the current system, you would need to look at	246	current system. To find which embeddable backends might be supported on
229	C<ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for	247	the current system, you would need to look at C<ev_embeddable_backends ()
230	recommended ones.	248	& ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for recommended ones.
231		249
232	See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.	250	See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
233		251
234	=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size)) [NOT REENTRANT]	252	=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size) throw ())
235		253
236	Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the	254	Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the
237	semantics are identical to the C<realloc> C89/SuS/POSIX function). It is	255	semantics are identical to the C<realloc> C89/SuS/POSIX function). It is
238	used to allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero	256	used to allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero
239	when memory needs to be allocated (C<size != 0>), the library might abort	257	when memory needs to be allocated (C<size != 0>), the library might abort
…		…
265	}	283	}
266		284
267	...	285	...
268	ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);	286	ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);
269		287
270	=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg)); [NOT REENTRANT]	288	=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg) throw ())
271		289
272	Set the callback function to call on a retryable system call error (such	290	Set the callback function to call on a retryable system call error (such
273	as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string	291	as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string
274	indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this	292	indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this
275	callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the situation, no	293	callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the situation, no
…		…
287	}	305	}
288		306
289	...	307	...
290	ev_set_syserr_cb (fatal_error);	308	ev_set_syserr_cb (fatal_error);
291		309
		310	=item ev_feed_signal (int signum)
		311
		312	This function can be used to "simulate" a signal receive. It is completely
		313	safe to call this function at any time, from any context, including signal
		314	handlers or random threads.
		315
		316	Its main use is to customise signal handling in your process, especially
		317	in the presence of threads. For example, you could block signals
		318	by default in all threads (and specifying C<EVFLAG_NOSIGMASK> when
		319	creating any loops), and in one thread, use C<sigwait> or any other
		320	mechanism to wait for signals, then "deliver" them to libev by calling
		321	C<ev_feed_signal>.
		322
292	=back	323	=back
293		324
294	=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP	325	=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING EVENT LOOPS
295		326
296	An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *> (the C<struct>	327	An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *> (the C<struct> is
297	is I<not> optional in this case, as there is also an C<ev_loop>	328	I<not> optional in this case unless libev 3 compatibility is disabled, as
298	I<function>).	329	libev 3 had an C<ev_loop> function colliding with the struct name).
299		330
300	The library knows two types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which	331	The library knows two types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which
301	supports signals and child events, and dynamically created loops which do	332	supports child process events, and dynamically created event loops which
302	not.	333	do not.
303		334
304	=over 4	335	=over 4
305		336
306	=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)	337	=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)
307		338
308	This will initialise the default event loop if it hasn't been initialised	339	This returns the "default" event loop object, which is what you should
309	yet and return it. If the default loop could not be initialised, returns	340	normally use when you just need "the event loop". Event loop objects and
310	false. If it already was initialised it simply returns it (and ignores the	341	the C<flags> parameter are described in more detail in the entry for
311	flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards).	342	C<ev_loop_new>.
		343
		344	If the default loop is already initialised then this function simply
		345	returns it (and ignores the flags. If that is troubling you, check
		346	C<ev_backend ()> afterwards). Otherwise it will create it with the given
		347	flags, which should almost always be C<0>, unless the caller is also the
		348	one calling C<ev_run> or otherwise qualifies as "the main program".
312		349
313	If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this	350	If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this
314	function.	351	function (or via the C<EV_DEFAULT> macro).
315		352
316	Note that this function is I<not> thread-safe, so if you want to use it	353	Note that this function is I<not> thread-safe, so if you want to use it
317	from multiple threads, you have to lock (note also that this is unlikely,	354	from multiple threads, you have to employ some kind of mutex (note also
318	as loops cannot be shared easily between threads anyway).	355	that this case is unlikely, as loops cannot be shared easily between
		356	threads anyway).
319		357
320	The default loop is the only loop that can handle C<ev_signal> and	358	The default loop is the only loop that can handle C<ev_child> watchers,
321	C<ev_child> watchers, and to do this, it always registers a handler	359	and to do this, it always registers a handler for C<SIGCHLD>. If this is
322	for C<SIGCHLD>. If this is a problem for your application you can either	360	a problem for your application you can either create a dynamic loop with
323	create a dynamic loop with C<ev_loop_new> that doesn't do that, or you	361	C<ev_loop_new> which doesn't do that, or you can simply overwrite the
324	can simply overwrite the C<SIGCHLD> signal handler I<after> calling	362	C<SIGCHLD> signal handler I<after> calling C<ev_default_init>.
325	C<ev_default_init>.	363
		364	Example: This is the most typical usage.
		365
		366	if (!ev_default_loop (0))
		367	fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");
		368
		369	Example: Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow
		370	environment settings to be taken into account:
		371
		372	ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);
		373
		374	=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)
		375
		376	This will create and initialise a new event loop object. If the loop
		377	could not be initialised, returns false.
		378
		379	This function is thread-safe, and one common way to use libev with
		380	threads is indeed to create one loop per thread, and using the default
		381	loop in the "main" or "initial" thread.
326		382
327	The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific	383	The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific
328	backends to use, and is usually specified as C<0> (or C<EVFLAG_AUTO>).	384	backends to use, and is usually specified as C<0> (or C<EVFLAG_AUTO>).
329		385
330	The following flags are supported:	386	The following flags are supported:
…		…
340		396
341	If this flag bit is or'ed into the flag value (or the program runs setuid	397	If this flag bit is or'ed into the flag value (or the program runs setuid
342	or setgid) then libev will I<not> look at the environment variable	398	or setgid) then libev will I<not> look at the environment variable
343	C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will	399	C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
344	override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is	400	override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is
345	useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work	401	useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, to work
346	around bugs.	402	around bugs, or to make libev threadsafe (accessing environment variables
		403	cannot be done in a threadsafe way, but usually it works if no other
		404	thread modifies them).
347		405
348	=item C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>	406	=item C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>
349		407
350	Instead of calling C<ev_default_fork> or C<ev_loop_fork> manually after	408	Instead of calling C<ev_loop_fork> manually after a fork, you can also
351	a fork, you can also make libev check for a fork in each iteration by	409	make libev check for a fork in each iteration by enabling this flag.
352	enabling this flag.
353		410
354	This works by calling C<getpid ()> on every iteration of the loop,	411	This works by calling C<getpid ()> on every iteration of the loop,
355	and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop	412	and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop
356	iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my	413	iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my
357	GNU/Linux system for example, C<getpid> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence	414	GNU/Linux system for example, C<getpid> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence
…		…
366	environment variable.	423	environment variable.
367		424
368	=item C<EVFLAG_NOINOTIFY>	425	=item C<EVFLAG_NOINOTIFY>
369		426
370	When this flag is specified, then libev will not attempt to use the	427	When this flag is specified, then libev will not attempt to use the
371	I<inotify> API for it's C<ev_stat> watchers. Apart from debugging and	428	I<inotify> API for its C<ev_stat> watchers. Apart from debugging and
372	testing, this flag can be useful to conserve inotify file descriptors, as	429	testing, this flag can be useful to conserve inotify file descriptors, as
373	otherwise each loop using C<ev_stat> watchers consumes one inotify handle.	430	otherwise each loop using C<ev_stat> watchers consumes one inotify handle.
374		431
375	=item C<EVFLAG_SIGNALFD>	432	=item C<EVFLAG_SIGNALFD>
376		433
377	When this flag is specified, then libev will attempt to use the	434	When this flag is specified, then libev will attempt to use the
378	I<signalfd> API for it's C<ev_signal> (and C<ev_child>) watchers. This API	435	I<signalfd> API for its C<ev_signal> (and C<ev_child>) watchers. This API
379	delivers signals synchronously, which makes it both faster and might make	436	delivers signals synchronously, which makes it both faster and might make
380	it possible to get the queued signal data. It can also simplify signal	437	it possible to get the queued signal data. It can also simplify signal
381	handling with threads, as long as you properly block signals in your	438	handling with threads, as long as you properly block signals in your
382	threads that are not interested in handling them.	439	threads that are not interested in handling them.
383		440
384	Signalfd will not be used by default as this changes your signal mask, and	441	Signalfd will not be used by default as this changes your signal mask, and
385	there are a lot of shoddy libraries and programs (glib's threadpool for	442	there are a lot of shoddy libraries and programs (glib's threadpool for
386	example) that can't properly initialise their signal masks.	443	example) that can't properly initialise their signal masks.
		444
		445	=item C<EVFLAG_NOSIGMASK>
		446
		447	When this flag is specified, then libev will avoid to modify the signal
		448	mask. Specifically, this means you have to make sure signals are unblocked
		449	when you want to receive them.
		450
		451	This behaviour is useful when you want to do your own signal handling, or
		452	want to handle signals only in specific threads and want to avoid libev
		453	unblocking the signals.
		454
		455	It's also required by POSIX in a threaded program, as libev calls
		456	C<sigprocmask>, whose behaviour is officially unspecified.
		457
		458	This flag's behaviour will become the default in future versions of libev.
387		459
388	=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)	460	=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)
389		461
390	This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as	462	This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as
391	libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,	463	libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,
…		…
419	=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)	491	=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)
420		492
421	Use the linux-specific epoll(7) interface (for both pre- and post-2.6.9	493	Use the linux-specific epoll(7) interface (for both pre- and post-2.6.9
422	kernels).	494	kernels).
423		495
424	For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,	496	For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select, but
425	but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale	497	it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale like
426	like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd),	498	O(total_fds) where total_fds is the total number of fds (or the highest
427	epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds).	499	fd), epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds).
428		500
429	The epoll mechanism deserves honorable mention as the most misdesigned	501	The epoll mechanism deserves honorable mention as the most misdesigned
430	of the more advanced event mechanisms: mere annoyances include silently	502	of the more advanced event mechanisms: mere annoyances include silently
431	dropping file descriptors, requiring a system call per change per file	503	dropping file descriptors, requiring a system call per change per file
432	descriptor (and unnecessary guessing of parameters), problems with dup and	504	descriptor (and unnecessary guessing of parameters), problems with dup,
		505	returning before the timeout value, resulting in additional iterations
		506	(and only giving 5ms accuracy while select on the same platform gives
433	so on. The biggest issue is fork races, however - if a program forks then	507	0.1ms) and so on. The biggest issue is fork races, however - if a program
434	I<both> parent and child process have to recreate the epoll set, which can	508	forks then I<both> parent and child process have to recreate the epoll
435	take considerable time (one syscall per file descriptor) and is of course	509	set, which can take considerable time (one syscall per file descriptor)
436	hard to detect.	510	and is of course hard to detect.
437		511
438	Epoll is also notoriously buggy - embedding epoll fds I<should> work, but	512	Epoll is also notoriously buggy - embedding epoll fds I<should> work,
439	of course I<doesn't>, and epoll just loves to report events for totally	513	but of course I<doesn't>, and epoll just loves to report events for
440	I<different> file descriptors (even already closed ones, so one cannot	514	totally I<different> file descriptors (even already closed ones, so
441	even remove them from the set) than registered in the set (especially	515	one cannot even remove them from the set) than registered in the set
442	on SMP systems). Libev tries to counter these spurious notifications by	516	(especially on SMP systems). Libev tries to counter these spurious
443	employing an additional generation counter and comparing that against the	517	notifications by employing an additional generation counter and comparing
444	events to filter out spurious ones, recreating the set when required.	518	that against the events to filter out spurious ones, recreating the set
		519	when required. Epoll also erroneously rounds down timeouts, but gives you
		520	no way to know when and by how much, so sometimes you have to busy-wait
		521	because epoll returns immediately despite a nonzero timeout. And last
		522	not least, it also refuses to work with some file descriptors which work
		523	perfectly fine with C<select> (files, many character devices...).
		524
		525	Epoll is truly the train wreck among event poll mechanisms, a frankenpoll,
		526	cobbled together in a hurry, no thought to design or interaction with
		527	others. Oh, the pain, will it ever stop...
445		528
446	While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration	529	While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration
447	will result in some caching, there is still a system call per such	530	will result in some caching, there is still a system call per such
448	incident (because the same I<file descriptor> could point to a different	531	incident (because the same I<file descriptor> could point to a different
449	I<file description> now), so its best to avoid that. Also, C<dup ()>'ed	532	I<file description> now), so its best to avoid that. Also, C<dup ()>'ed
…		…
486		569
487	It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the	570	It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the
488	kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of	571	kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of
489	course). While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher does never	572	course). While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher does never
490	cause an extra system call as with C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL>, it still adds up to	573	cause an extra system call as with C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL>, it still adds up to
491	two event changes per incident. Support for C<fork ()> is very bad (but	574	two event changes per incident. Support for C<fork ()> is very bad (you
492	sane, unlike epoll) and it drops fds silently in similarly hard-to-detect	575	might have to leak fd's on fork, but it's more sane than epoll) and it
493	cases	576	drops fds silently in similarly hard-to-detect cases.
494		577
495	This backend usually performs well under most conditions.	578	This backend usually performs well under most conditions.
496		579
497	While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this doesn't work	580	While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this doesn't work
498	everywhere, so you might need to test for this. And since it is broken	581	everywhere, so you might need to test for this. And since it is broken
…		…
515	=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)	598	=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)
516		599
517	This uses the Solaris 10 event port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,	600	This uses the Solaris 10 event port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,
518	it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).	601	it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).
519		602
520	Please note that Solaris event ports can deliver a lot of spurious
521	notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid
522	blocking when no data (or space) is available.
523
524	While this backend scales well, it requires one system call per active	603	While this backend scales well, it requires one system call per active
525	file descriptor per loop iteration. For small and medium numbers of file	604	file descriptor per loop iteration. For small and medium numbers of file
526	descriptors a "slow" C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL> backend	605	descriptors a "slow" C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL> backend
527	might perform better.	606	might perform better.
528		607
529	On the positive side, with the exception of the spurious readiness	608	On the positive side, this backend actually performed fully to
530	notifications, this backend actually performed fully to specification
531	in all tests and is fully embeddable, which is a rare feat among the	609	specification in all tests and is fully embeddable, which is a rare feat
532	OS-specific backends (I vastly prefer correctness over speed hacks).	610	among the OS-specific backends (I vastly prefer correctness over speed
		611	hacks).
		612
		613	On the negative side, the interface is I<bizarre> - so bizarre that
		614	even sun itself gets it wrong in their code examples: The event polling
		615	function sometimes returns events to the caller even though an error
		616	occurred, but with no indication whether it has done so or not (yes, it's
		617	even documented that way) - deadly for edge-triggered interfaces where you
		618	absolutely have to know whether an event occurred or not because you have
		619	to re-arm the watcher.
		620
		621	Fortunately libev seems to be able to work around these idiocies.
533		622
534	This backend maps C<EV_READ> and C<EV_WRITE> in the same way as	623	This backend maps C<EV_READ> and C<EV_WRITE> in the same way as
535	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.	624	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
536		625
537	=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>	626	=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>
538		627
539	Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried	628	Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried
540	with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as	629	with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as
541	C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.	630	C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.
542		631
543	It is definitely not recommended to use this flag.	632	It is definitely not recommended to use this flag, use whatever
		633	C<ev_recommended_backends ()> returns, or simply do not specify a backend
		634	at all.
		635
		636	=item C<EVBACKEND_MASK>
		637
		638	Not a backend at all, but a mask to select all backend bits from a
		639	C<flags> value, in case you want to mask out any backends from a flags
		640	value (e.g. when modifying the C<LIBEV_FLAGS> environment variable).
544		641
545	=back	642	=back
546		643
547	If one or more of the backend flags are or'ed into the flags value,	644	If one or more of the backend flags are or'ed into the flags value,
548	then only these backends will be tried (in the reverse order as listed	645	then only these backends will be tried (in the reverse order as listed
549	here). If none are specified, all backends in C<ev_recommended_backends	646	here). If none are specified, all backends in C<ev_recommended_backends
550	()> will be tried.	647	()> will be tried.
551		648
552	Example: This is the most typical usage.
553
554	if (!ev_default_loop (0))
555	fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");
556
557	Example: Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow
558	environment settings to be taken into account:
559
560	ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);
561
562	Example: Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is
563	used if available (warning, breaks stuff, best use only with your own
564	private event loop and only if you know the OS supports your types of
565	fds):
566
567	ev_default_loop (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);
568
569	=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)
570
571	Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is
572	always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot
573	handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
574	undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).
575
576	Note that this function I<is> thread-safe, and the recommended way to use
577	libev with threads is indeed to create one loop per thread, and using the
578	default loop in the "main" or "initial" thread.
579
580	Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.	649	Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.
581		650
582	struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);	651	struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
583	if (!epoller)	652	if (!epoller)
584	fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");	653	fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");
585		654
		655	Example: Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is
		656	used if available.
		657
		658	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_loop_new (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);
		659
586	=item ev_default_destroy ()	660	=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)
587		661
588	Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state	662	Destroys an event loop object (frees all memory and kernel state
589	etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal	663	etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal
590	sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your	664	sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your
591	responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yourself I<before>	665	responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yourself I<before>
592	calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually	666	calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually
593	the easiest thing, you can just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them	667	the easiest thing, you can just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them
…		…
595		669
596	Note that certain global state, such as signal state (and installed signal	670	Note that certain global state, such as signal state (and installed signal
597	handlers), will not be freed by this function, and related watchers (such	671	handlers), will not be freed by this function, and related watchers (such
598	as signal and child watchers) would need to be stopped manually.	672	as signal and child watchers) would need to be stopped manually.
599		673
600	In general it is not advisable to call this function except in the	674	This function is normally used on loop objects allocated by
601	rare occasion where you really need to free e.g. the signal handling	675	C<ev_loop_new>, but it can also be used on the default loop returned by
		676	C<ev_default_loop>, in which case it is not thread-safe.
		677
		678	Note that it is not advisable to call this function on the default loop
		679	except in the rare occasion where you really need to free its resources.
602	pipe fds. If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use	680	If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use C<ev_loop_new>
603	C<ev_loop_new> and C<ev_loop_destroy>.	681	and C<ev_loop_destroy>.
604		682
605	=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)	683	=item ev_loop_fork (loop)
606		684
607	Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an
608	earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>.
609
610	=item ev_default_fork ()
611
612	This function sets a flag that causes subsequent C<ev_loop> iterations	685	This function sets a flag that causes subsequent C<ev_run> iterations to
613	to reinitialise the kernel state for backends that have one. Despite the	686	reinitialise the kernel state for backends that have one. Despite the
614	name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense after forking, in	687	name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense after forking, in
615	the child process (or both child and parent, but that again makes little	688	the child process. You I<must> call it (or use C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>) in the
616	sense). You I<must> call it in the child before using any of the libev	689	child before resuming or calling C<ev_run>.
617	functions, and it will only take effect at the next C<ev_loop> iteration.	690
		691	Again, you I<have> to call it on I<any> loop that you want to re-use after
		692	a fork, I<even if you do not plan to use the loop in the parent>. This is
		693	because some kernel interfaces *cough* I<kqueue> *cough* do funny things
		694	during fork.
618		695
619	On the other hand, you only need to call this function in the child	696	On the other hand, you only need to call this function in the child
620	process if and only if you want to use the event library in the child. If	697	process if and only if you want to use the event loop in the child. If
621	you just fork+exec, you don't have to call it at all.	698	you just fork+exec or create a new loop in the child, you don't have to
		699	call it at all (in fact, C<epoll> is so badly broken that it makes a
		700	difference, but libev will usually detect this case on its own and do a
		701	costly reset of the backend).
622		702
623	The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call	703	The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call
624	it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in	704	it just in case after a fork.
625	quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>:
626		705
		706	Example: Automate calling C<ev_loop_fork> on the default loop when
		707	using pthreads.
		708
		709	static void
		710	post_fork_child (void)
		711	{
		712	ev_loop_fork (EV_DEFAULT);
		713	}
		714
		715	...
627	pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork);	716	pthread_atfork (0, 0, post_fork_child);
628
629	=item ev_loop_fork (loop)
630
631	Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by
632	C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
633	after fork that you want to re-use in the child, and how you do this is
634	entirely your own problem.
635		717
636	=item int ev_is_default_loop (loop)	718	=item int ev_is_default_loop (loop)
637		719
638	Returns true when the given loop is, in fact, the default loop, and false	720	Returns true when the given loop is, in fact, the default loop, and false
639	otherwise.	721	otherwise.
640		722
641	=item unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)	723	=item unsigned int ev_iteration (loop)
642		724
643	Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to	725	Returns the current iteration count for the event loop, which is identical
644	the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at C<0> and	726	to the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at C<0>
645	happily wraps around with enough iterations.	727	and happily wraps around with enough iterations.
646		728
647	This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it	729	This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it
648	"ticks" the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with	730	"ticks" the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with
649	C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> calls.	731	C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> calls - and is incremented between the
		732	prepare and check phases.
650		733
651	=item unsigned int ev_loop_depth (loop)	734	=item unsigned int ev_depth (loop)
652		735
653	Returns the number of times C<ev_loop> was entered minus the number of	736	Returns the number of times C<ev_run> was entered minus the number of
654	times C<ev_loop> was exited, in other words, the recursion depth.	737	times C<ev_run> was exited normally, in other words, the recursion depth.
655		738
656	Outside C<ev_loop>, this number is zero. In a callback, this number is	739	Outside C<ev_run>, this number is zero. In a callback, this number is
657	C<1>, unless C<ev_loop> was invoked recursively (or from another thread),	740	C<1>, unless C<ev_run> was invoked recursively (or from another thread),
658	in which case it is higher.	741	in which case it is higher.
659		742
660	Leaving C<ev_loop> abnormally (setjmp/longjmp, cancelling the thread	743	Leaving C<ev_run> abnormally (setjmp/longjmp, cancelling the thread,
661	etc.), doesn't count as exit.	744	throwing an exception etc.), doesn't count as "exit" - consider this
		745	as a hint to avoid such ungentleman-like behaviour unless it's really
		746	convenient, in which case it is fully supported.
662		747
663	=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)	748	=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)
664		749
665	Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in	750	Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in
666	use.	751	use.
…		…
675		760
676	=item ev_now_update (loop)	761	=item ev_now_update (loop)
677		762
678	Establishes the current time by querying the kernel, updating the time	763	Establishes the current time by querying the kernel, updating the time
679	returned by C<ev_now ()> in the progress. This is a costly operation and	764	returned by C<ev_now ()> in the progress. This is a costly operation and
680	is usually done automatically within C<ev_loop ()>.	765	is usually done automatically within C<ev_run ()>.
681		766
682	This function is rarely useful, but when some event callback runs for a	767	This function is rarely useful, but when some event callback runs for a
683	very long time without entering the event loop, updating libev's idea of	768	very long time without entering the event loop, updating libev's idea of
684	the current time is a good idea.	769	the current time is a good idea.
685		770
686	See also L<The special problem of time updates> in the C<ev_timer> section.	771	See also L</The special problem of time updates> in the C<ev_timer> section.
687		772
688	=item ev_suspend (loop)	773	=item ev_suspend (loop)
689		774
690	=item ev_resume (loop)	775	=item ev_resume (loop)
691		776
692	These two functions suspend and resume a loop, for use when the loop is	777	These two functions suspend and resume an event loop, for use when the
693	not used for a while and timeouts should not be processed.	778	loop is not used for a while and timeouts should not be processed.
694		779
695	A typical use case would be an interactive program such as a game: When	780	A typical use case would be an interactive program such as a game: When
696	the user presses C<^Z> to suspend the game and resumes it an hour later it	781	the user presses C<^Z> to suspend the game and resumes it an hour later it
697	would be best to handle timeouts as if no time had actually passed while	782	would be best to handle timeouts as if no time had actually passed while
698	the program was suspended. This can be achieved by calling C<ev_suspend>	783	the program was suspended. This can be achieved by calling C<ev_suspend>
…		…
700	C<ev_resume> directly afterwards to resume timer processing.	785	C<ev_resume> directly afterwards to resume timer processing.
701		786
702	Effectively, all C<ev_timer> watchers will be delayed by the time spend	787	Effectively, all C<ev_timer> watchers will be delayed by the time spend
703	between C<ev_suspend> and C<ev_resume>, and all C<ev_periodic> watchers	788	between C<ev_suspend> and C<ev_resume>, and all C<ev_periodic> watchers
704	will be rescheduled (that is, they will lose any events that would have	789	will be rescheduled (that is, they will lose any events that would have
705	occured while suspended).	790	occurred while suspended).
706		791
707	After calling C<ev_suspend> you B<must not> call I<any> function on the	792	After calling C<ev_suspend> you B<must not> call I<any> function on the
708	given loop other than C<ev_resume>, and you B<must not> call C<ev_resume>	793	given loop other than C<ev_resume>, and you B<must not> call C<ev_resume>
709	without a previous call to C<ev_suspend>.	794	without a previous call to C<ev_suspend>.
710		795
711	Calling C<ev_suspend>/C<ev_resume> has the side effect of updating the	796	Calling C<ev_suspend>/C<ev_resume> has the side effect of updating the
712	event loop time (see C<ev_now_update>).	797	event loop time (see C<ev_now_update>).
713		798
714	=item ev_loop (loop, int flags)	799	=item bool ev_run (loop, int flags)
715		800
716	Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called	801	Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called
717	after you have initialised all your watchers and you want to start	802	after you have initialised all your watchers and you want to start
718	handling events.	803	handling events. It will ask the operating system for any new events, call
		804	the watcher callbacks, and then repeat the whole process indefinitely: This
		805	is why event loops are called I<loops>.
719		806
720	If the flags argument is specified as C<0>, it will not return until	807	If the flags argument is specified as C<0>, it will keep handling events
721	either no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_unloop> was called.	808	until either no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_break> was
		809	called.
722		810
		811	The return value is false if there are no more active watchers (which
		812	usually means "all jobs done" or "deadlock"), and true in all other cases
		813	(which usually means " you should call C<ev_run> again").
		814
723	Please note that an explicit C<ev_unloop> is usually better than	815	Please note that an explicit C<ev_break> is usually better than
724	relying on all watchers to be stopped when deciding when a program has	816	relying on all watchers to be stopped when deciding when a program has
725	finished (especially in interactive programs), but having a program	817	finished (especially in interactive programs), but having a program
726	that automatically loops as long as it has to and no longer by virtue	818	that automatically loops as long as it has to and no longer by virtue
727	of relying on its watchers stopping correctly, that is truly a thing of	819	of relying on its watchers stopping correctly, that is truly a thing of
728	beauty.	820	beauty.
729		821
		822	This function is I<mostly> exception-safe - you can break out of a
		823	C<ev_run> call by calling C<longjmp> in a callback, throwing a C++
		824	exception and so on. This does not decrement the C<ev_depth> value, nor
		825	will it clear any outstanding C<EVBREAK_ONE> breaks.
		826
730	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle	827	A flags value of C<EVRUN_NOWAIT> will look for new events, will handle
731	those events and any already outstanding ones, but will not block your	828	those events and any already outstanding ones, but will not wait and
732	process in case there are no events and will return after one iteration of	829	block your process in case there are no events and will return after one
733	the loop.	830	iteration of the loop. This is sometimes useful to poll and handle new
		831	events while doing lengthy calculations, to keep the program responsive.
734		832
735	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if	833	A flags value of C<EVRUN_ONCE> will look for new events (waiting if
736	necessary) and will handle those and any already outstanding ones. It	834	necessary) and will handle those and any already outstanding ones. It
737	will block your process until at least one new event arrives (which could	835	will block your process until at least one new event arrives (which could
738	be an event internal to libev itself, so there is no guarantee that a	836	be an event internal to libev itself, so there is no guarantee that a
739	user-registered callback will be called), and will return after one	837	user-registered callback will be called), and will return after one
740	iteration of the loop.	838	iteration of the loop.
741		839
742	This is useful if you are waiting for some external event in conjunction	840	This is useful if you are waiting for some external event in conjunction
743	with something not expressible using other libev watchers (i.e. "roll your	841	with something not expressible using other libev watchers (i.e. "roll your
744	own C<ev_loop>"). However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is	842	own C<ev_run>"). However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is
745	usually a better approach for this kind of thing.	843	usually a better approach for this kind of thing.
746		844
747	Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does:	845	Here are the gory details of what C<ev_run> does (this is for your
		846	understanding, not a guarantee that things will work exactly like this in
		847	future versions):
748		848
		849	- Increment loop depth.
		850	- Reset the ev_break status.
749	- Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.	851	- Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
		852	LOOP:
750	* If EVFLAG_FORKCHECK was used, check for a fork.	853	- If EVFLAG_FORKCHECK was used, check for a fork.
751	- If a fork was detected (by any means), queue and call all fork watchers.	854	- If a fork was detected (by any means), queue and call all fork watchers.
752	- Queue and call all prepare watchers.	855	- Queue and call all prepare watchers.
		856	- If ev_break was called, goto FINISH.
753	- If we have been forked, detach and recreate the kernel state	857	- If we have been forked, detach and recreate the kernel state
754	as to not disturb the other process.	858	as to not disturb the other process.
755	- Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.	859	- Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
756	- Update the "event loop time" (ev_now ()).	860	- Update the "event loop time" (ev_now ()).
757	- Calculate for how long to sleep or block, if at all	861	- Calculate for how long to sleep or block, if at all
758	(active idle watchers, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK or not having	862	(active idle watchers, EVRUN_NOWAIT or not having
759	any active watchers at all will result in not sleeping).	863	any active watchers at all will result in not sleeping).
760	- Sleep if the I/O and timer collect interval say so.	864	- Sleep if the I/O and timer collect interval say so.
		865	- Increment loop iteration counter.
761	- Block the process, waiting for any events.	866	- Block the process, waiting for any events.
762	- Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.	867	- Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.
763	- Update the "event loop time" (ev_now ()), and do time jump adjustments.	868	- Update the "event loop time" (ev_now ()), and do time jump adjustments.
764	- Queue all expired timers.	869	- Queue all expired timers.
765	- Queue all expired periodics.	870	- Queue all expired periodics.
766	- Unless any events are pending now, queue all idle watchers.	871	- Queue all idle watchers with priority higher than that of pending events.
767	- Queue all check watchers.	872	- Queue all check watchers.
768	- Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).	873	- Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).
769	Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will	874	Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will
770	be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.	875	be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
771	- If ev_unloop has been called, or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK	876	- If ev_break has been called, or EVRUN_ONCE or EVRUN_NOWAIT
772	were used, or there are no active watchers, return, otherwise	877	were used, or there are no active watchers, goto FINISH, otherwise
773	continue with step *.	878	continue with step LOOP.
		879	FINISH:
		880	- Reset the ev_break status iff it was EVBREAK_ONE.
		881	- Decrement the loop depth.
		882	- Return.
774		883
775	Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outstanding	884	Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outstanding
776	anymore.	885	anymore.
777		886
778	... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long	887	... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
779	... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)	888	... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
780	ev_loop (my_loop, 0);	889	ev_run (my_loop, 0);
781	... jobs done or somebody called unloop. yeah!	890	... jobs done or somebody called break. yeah!
782		891
783	=item ev_unloop (loop, how)	892	=item ev_break (loop, how)
784		893
785	Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early (but only after it	894	Can be used to make a call to C<ev_run> return early (but only after it
786	has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either	895	has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either
787	C<EVUNLOOP_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_loop> call return, or	896	C<EVBREAK_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_run> call return, or
788	C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> calls return.	897	C<EVBREAK_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_run> calls return.
789		898
790	This "unloop state" will be cleared when entering C<ev_loop> again.	899	This "break state" will be cleared on the next call to C<ev_run>.
791		900
792	It is safe to call C<ev_unloop> from otuside any C<ev_loop> calls.	901	It is safe to call C<ev_break> from outside any C<ev_run> calls, too, in
		902	which case it will have no effect.
793		903
794	=item ev_ref (loop)	904	=item ev_ref (loop)
795		905
796	=item ev_unref (loop)	906	=item ev_unref (loop)
797		907
798	Ref/unref can be used to add or remove a reference count on the event	908	Ref/unref can be used to add or remove a reference count on the event
799	loop: Every watcher keeps one reference, and as long as the reference	909	loop: Every watcher keeps one reference, and as long as the reference
800	count is nonzero, C<ev_loop> will not return on its own.	910	count is nonzero, C<ev_run> will not return on its own.
801		911
802	This is useful when you have a watcher that you never intend to	912	This is useful when you have a watcher that you never intend to
803	unregister, but that nevertheless should not keep C<ev_loop> from	913	unregister, but that nevertheless should not keep C<ev_run> from
804	returning. In such a case, call C<ev_unref> after starting, and C<ev_ref>	914	returning. In such a case, call C<ev_unref> after starting, and C<ev_ref>
805	before stopping it.	915	before stopping it.
806		916
807	As an example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It	917	As an example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It
808	is not visible to the libev user and should not keep C<ev_loop> from	918	is not visible to the libev user and should not keep C<ev_run> from
809	exiting if no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an	919	exiting if no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an
810	excellent way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within	920	excellent way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within
811	third-party libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref	921	third-party libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref
812	before stop> (but only if the watcher wasn't active before, or was active	922	before stop> (but only if the watcher wasn't active before, or was active
813	before, respectively. Note also that libev might stop watchers itself	923	before, respectively. Note also that libev might stop watchers itself
814	(e.g. non-repeating timers) in which case you have to C<ev_ref>	924	(e.g. non-repeating timers) in which case you have to C<ev_ref>
815	in the callback).	925	in the callback).
816		926
817	Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_loop>	927	Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_run>
818	running when nothing else is active.	928	running when nothing else is active.
819		929
820	ev_signal exitsig;	930	ev_signal exitsig;
821	ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);	931	ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
822	ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);	932	ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);
823	evf_unref (loop);	933	ev_unref (loop);
824		934
825	Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.	935	Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.
826		936
827	ev_ref (loop);	937	ev_ref (loop);
828	ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);	938	ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);
…		…
848	overhead for the actual polling but can deliver many events at once.	958	overhead for the actual polling but can deliver many events at once.
849		959
850	By setting a higher I<io collect interval> you allow libev to spend more	960	By setting a higher I<io collect interval> you allow libev to spend more
851	time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration,	961	time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration,
852	at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both C<ev_periodic> and	962	at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both C<ev_periodic> and
853	C<ev_timer>) will be not affected. Setting this to a non-null value will	963	C<ev_timer>) will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null value will
854	introduce an additional C<ev_sleep ()> call into most loop iterations. The	964	introduce an additional C<ev_sleep ()> call into most loop iterations. The
855	sleep time ensures that libev will not poll for I/O events more often then	965	sleep time ensures that libev will not poll for I/O events more often then
856	once per this interval, on average.	966	once per this interval, on average (as long as the host time resolution is
		967	good enough).
857		968
858	Likewise, by setting a higher I<timeout collect interval> you allow libev	969	Likewise, by setting a higher I<timeout collect interval> you allow libev
859	to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased	970	to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased
860	latency/jitter/inexactness (the watcher callback will be called	971	latency/jitter/inexactness (the watcher callback will be called
861	later). C<ev_io> watchers will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null	972	later). C<ev_io> watchers will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null
…		…
867	usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than C<0.01>,	978	usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than C<0.01>,
868	as this approaches the timing granularity of most systems. Note that if	979	as this approaches the timing granularity of most systems. Note that if
869	you do transactions with the outside world and you can't increase the	980	you do transactions with the outside world and you can't increase the
870	parallelity, then this setting will limit your transaction rate (if you	981	parallelity, then this setting will limit your transaction rate (if you
871	need to poll once per transaction and the I/O collect interval is 0.01,	982	need to poll once per transaction and the I/O collect interval is 0.01,
872	then you can't do more than 100 transations per second).	983	then you can't do more than 100 transactions per second).
873		984
874	Setting the I<timeout collect interval> can improve the opportunity for	985	Setting the I<timeout collect interval> can improve the opportunity for
875	saving power, as the program will "bundle" timer callback invocations that	986	saving power, as the program will "bundle" timer callback invocations that
876	are "near" in time together, by delaying some, thus reducing the number of	987	are "near" in time together, by delaying some, thus reducing the number of
877	times the process sleeps and wakes up again. Another useful technique to	988	times the process sleeps and wakes up again. Another useful technique to
…		…
885	ev_set_io_collect_interval (EV_DEFAULT_UC_ 0.01);	996	ev_set_io_collect_interval (EV_DEFAULT_UC_ 0.01);
886		997
887	=item ev_invoke_pending (loop)	998	=item ev_invoke_pending (loop)
888		999
889	This call will simply invoke all pending watchers while resetting their	1000	This call will simply invoke all pending watchers while resetting their
890	pending state. Normally, C<ev_loop> does this automatically when required,	1001	pending state. Normally, C<ev_run> does this automatically when required,
891	but when overriding the invoke callback this call comes handy.	1002	but when overriding the invoke callback this call comes handy. This
		1003	function can be invoked from a watcher - this can be useful for example
		1004	when you want to do some lengthy calculation and want to pass further
		1005	event handling to another thread (you still have to make sure only one
		1006	thread executes within C<ev_invoke_pending> or C<ev_run> of course).
892		1007
893	=item int ev_pending_count (loop)	1008	=item int ev_pending_count (loop)
894		1009
895	Returns the number of pending watchers - zero indicates that no watchers	1010	Returns the number of pending watchers - zero indicates that no watchers
896	are pending.	1011	are pending.
897		1012
898	=item ev_set_invoke_pending_cb (loop, void (*invoke_pending_cb)(EV_P))	1013	=item ev_set_invoke_pending_cb (loop, void (*invoke_pending_cb)(EV_P))
899		1014
900	This overrides the invoke pending functionality of the loop: Instead of	1015	This overrides the invoke pending functionality of the loop: Instead of
901	invoking all pending watchers when there are any, C<ev_loop> will call	1016	invoking all pending watchers when there are any, C<ev_run> will call
902	this callback instead. This is useful, for example, when you want to	1017	this callback instead. This is useful, for example, when you want to
903	invoke the actual watchers inside another context (another thread etc.).	1018	invoke the actual watchers inside another context (another thread etc.).
904		1019
905	If you want to reset the callback, use C<ev_invoke_pending> as new	1020	If you want to reset the callback, use C<ev_invoke_pending> as new
906	callback.	1021	callback.
907		1022
908	=item ev_set_loop_release_cb (loop, void (*release)(EV_P), void (*acquire)(EV_P))	1023	=item ev_set_loop_release_cb (loop, void (*release)(EV_P) throw (), void (*acquire)(EV_P) throw ())
909		1024
910	Sometimes you want to share the same loop between multiple threads. This	1025	Sometimes you want to share the same loop between multiple threads. This
911	can be done relatively simply by putting mutex_lock/unlock calls around	1026	can be done relatively simply by putting mutex_lock/unlock calls around
912	each call to a libev function.	1027	each call to a libev function.
913		1028
914	However, C<ev_loop> can run an indefinite time, so it is not feasible to	1029	However, C<ev_run> can run an indefinite time, so it is not feasible
915	wait for it to return. One way around this is to wake up the loop via	1030	to wait for it to return. One way around this is to wake up the event
916	C<ev_unloop> and C<av_async_send>, another way is to set these I<release>	1031	loop via C<ev_break> and C<ev_async_send>, another way is to set these
917	and I<acquire> callbacks on the loop.	1032	I<release> and I<acquire> callbacks on the loop.
918		1033
919	When set, then C<release> will be called just before the thread is	1034	When set, then C<release> will be called just before the thread is
920	suspended waiting for new events, and C<acquire> is called just	1035	suspended waiting for new events, and C<acquire> is called just
921	afterwards.	1036	afterwards.
922		1037
…		…
925		1040
926	While event loop modifications are allowed between invocations of	1041	While event loop modifications are allowed between invocations of
927	C<release> and C<acquire> (that's their only purpose after all), no	1042	C<release> and C<acquire> (that's their only purpose after all), no
928	modifications done will affect the event loop, i.e. adding watchers will	1043	modifications done will affect the event loop, i.e. adding watchers will
929	have no effect on the set of file descriptors being watched, or the time	1044	have no effect on the set of file descriptors being watched, or the time
930	waited. Use an C<ev_async> watcher to wake up C<ev_loop> when you want it	1045	waited. Use an C<ev_async> watcher to wake up C<ev_run> when you want it
931	to take note of any changes you made.	1046	to take note of any changes you made.
932		1047
933	In theory, threads executing C<ev_loop> will be async-cancel safe between	1048	In theory, threads executing C<ev_run> will be async-cancel safe between
934	invocations of C<release> and C<acquire>.	1049	invocations of C<release> and C<acquire>.
935		1050
936	See also the locking example in the C<THREADS> section later in this	1051	See also the locking example in the C<THREADS> section later in this
937	document.	1052	document.
938		1053
939	=item ev_set_userdata (loop, void *data)	1054	=item ev_set_userdata (loop, void *data)
940		1055
941	=item ev_userdata (loop)	1056	=item void *ev_userdata (loop)
942		1057
943	Set and retrieve a single C<void *> associated with a loop. When	1058	Set and retrieve a single C<void *> associated with a loop. When
944	C<ev_set_userdata> has never been called, then C<ev_userdata> returns	1059	C<ev_set_userdata> has never been called, then C<ev_userdata> returns
945	C<0.>	1060	C<0>.
946		1061
947	These two functions can be used to associate arbitrary data with a loop,	1062	These two functions can be used to associate arbitrary data with a loop,
948	and are intended solely for the C<invoke_pending_cb>, C<release> and	1063	and are intended solely for the C<invoke_pending_cb>, C<release> and
949	C<acquire> callbacks described above, but of course can be (ab-)used for	1064	C<acquire> callbacks described above, but of course can be (ab-)used for
950	any other purpose as well.	1065	any other purpose as well.
951		1066
952	=item ev_loop_verify (loop)	1067	=item ev_verify (loop)
953		1068
954	This function only does something when C<EV_VERIFY> support has been	1069	This function only does something when C<EV_VERIFY> support has been
955	compiled in, which is the default for non-minimal builds. It tries to go	1070	compiled in, which is the default for non-minimal builds. It tries to go
956	through all internal structures and checks them for validity. If anything	1071	through all internal structures and checks them for validity. If anything
957	is found to be inconsistent, it will print an error message to standard	1072	is found to be inconsistent, it will print an error message to standard
…		…
968		1083
969	In the following description, uppercase C<TYPE> in names stands for the	1084	In the following description, uppercase C<TYPE> in names stands for the
970	watcher type, e.g. C<ev_TYPE_start> can mean C<ev_timer_start> for timer	1085	watcher type, e.g. C<ev_TYPE_start> can mean C<ev_timer_start> for timer
971	watchers and C<ev_io_start> for I/O watchers.	1086	watchers and C<ev_io_start> for I/O watchers.
972		1087
973	A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your	1088	A watcher is an opaque structure that you allocate and register to record
974	interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to	1089	your interest in some event. To make a concrete example, imagine you want
975	become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher for that:	1090	to wait for STDIN to become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher
		1091	for that:
976		1092
977	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)	1093	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
978	{	1094	{
979	ev_io_stop (w);	1095	ev_io_stop (w);
980	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);	1096	ev_break (loop, EVBREAK_ALL);
981	}	1097	}
982		1098
983	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);	1099	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
984		1100
985	ev_io stdin_watcher;	1101	ev_io stdin_watcher;
986		1102
987	ev_init (&stdin_watcher, my_cb);	1103	ev_init (&stdin_watcher, my_cb);
988	ev_io_set (&stdin_watcher, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);	1104	ev_io_set (&stdin_watcher, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
989	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);	1105	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
990		1106
991	ev_loop (loop, 0);	1107	ev_run (loop, 0);
992		1108
993	As you can see, you are responsible for allocating the memory for your	1109	As you can see, you are responsible for allocating the memory for your
994	watcher structures (and it is I<usually> a bad idea to do this on the	1110	watcher structures (and it is I<usually> a bad idea to do this on the
995	stack).	1111	stack).
996		1112
997	Each watcher has an associated watcher structure (called C<struct ev_TYPE>	1113	Each watcher has an associated watcher structure (called C<struct ev_TYPE>
998	or simply C<ev_TYPE>, as typedefs are provided for all watcher structs).	1114	or simply C<ev_TYPE>, as typedefs are provided for all watcher structs).
999		1115
1000	Each watcher structure must be initialised by a call to C<ev_init	1116	Each watcher structure must be initialised by a call to C<ev_init (watcher
1001	(watcher *, callback)>, which expects a callback to be provided. This	1117	*, callback)>, which expects a callback to be provided. This callback is
1002	callback gets invoked each time the event occurs (or, in the case of I/O	1118	invoked each time the event occurs (or, in the case of I/O watchers, each
1003	watchers, each time the event loop detects that the file descriptor given	1119	time the event loop detects that the file descriptor given is readable
1004	is readable and/or writable).	1120	and/or writable).
1005		1121
1006	Each watcher type further has its own C<< ev_TYPE_set (watcher *, ...) >>	1122	Each watcher type further has its own C<< ev_TYPE_set (watcher *, ...) >>
1007	macro to configure it, with arguments specific to the watcher type. There	1123	macro to configure it, with arguments specific to the watcher type. There
1008	is also a macro to combine initialisation and setting in one call: C<<	1124	is also a macro to combine initialisation and setting in one call: C<<
1009	ev_TYPE_init (watcher *, callback, ...) >>.	1125	ev_TYPE_init (watcher *, callback, ...) >>.
…		…
1032	=item C<EV_WRITE>	1148	=item C<EV_WRITE>
1033		1149
1034	The file descriptor in the C<ev_io> watcher has become readable and/or	1150	The file descriptor in the C<ev_io> watcher has become readable and/or
1035	writable.	1151	writable.
1036		1152
1037	=item C<EV_TIMEOUT>	1153	=item C<EV_TIMER>
1038		1154
1039	The C<ev_timer> watcher has timed out.	1155	The C<ev_timer> watcher has timed out.
1040		1156
1041	=item C<EV_PERIODIC>	1157	=item C<EV_PERIODIC>
1042		1158
…		…
1060		1176
1061	=item C<EV_PREPARE>	1177	=item C<EV_PREPARE>
1062		1178
1063	=item C<EV_CHECK>	1179	=item C<EV_CHECK>
1064		1180
1065	All C<ev_prepare> watchers are invoked just I<before> C<ev_loop> starts	1181	All C<ev_prepare> watchers are invoked just I<before> C<ev_run> starts to
1066	to gather new events, and all C<ev_check> watchers are invoked just after	1182	gather new events, and all C<ev_check> watchers are queued (not invoked)
1067	C<ev_loop> has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any	1183	just after C<ev_run> has gathered them, but before it queues any callbacks
		1184	for any received events. That means C<ev_prepare> watchers are the last
		1185	watchers invoked before the event loop sleeps or polls for new events, and
		1186	C<ev_check> watchers will be invoked before any other watchers of the same
		1187	or lower priority within an event loop iteration.
		1188
1068	received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as	1189	Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as many watchers as
1069	many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account	1190	they want, and all of them will be taken into account (for example, a
1070	(for example, a C<ev_prepare> watcher might start an idle watcher to keep	1191	C<ev_prepare> watcher might start an idle watcher to keep C<ev_run> from
1071	C<ev_loop> from blocking).	1192	blocking).
1072		1193
1073	=item C<EV_EMBED>	1194	=item C<EV_EMBED>
1074		1195
1075	The embedded event loop specified in the C<ev_embed> watcher needs attention.	1196	The embedded event loop specified in the C<ev_embed> watcher needs attention.
1076		1197
1077	=item C<EV_FORK>	1198	=item C<EV_FORK>
1078		1199
1079	The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see	1200	The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
1080	C<ev_fork>).	1201	C<ev_fork>).
		1202
		1203	=item C<EV_CLEANUP>
		1204
		1205	The event loop is about to be destroyed (see C<ev_cleanup>).
1081		1206
1082	=item C<EV_ASYNC>	1207	=item C<EV_ASYNC>
1083		1208
1084	The given async watcher has been asynchronously notified (see C<ev_async>).	1209	The given async watcher has been asynchronously notified (see C<ev_async>).
1085		1210
…		…
1195		1320
1196	=item callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)	1321	=item callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)
1197		1322
1198	Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.	1323	Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.
1199		1324
1200	=item ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)	1325	=item ev_set_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
1201		1326
1202	Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time	1327	Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
1203	(modulo threads).	1328	(modulo threads).
1204		1329
1205	=item ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, int priority)	1330	=item ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, int priority)
…		…
1223	or might not have been clamped to the valid range.	1348	or might not have been clamped to the valid range.
1224		1349
1225	The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is	1350	The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
1226	always C<0>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).	1351	always C<0>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).
1227		1352
1228	See L<WATCHER PRIORITY MODELS>, below, for a more thorough treatment of	1353	See L</WATCHER PRIORITY MODELS>, below, for a more thorough treatment of
1229	priorities.	1354	priorities.
1230		1355
1231	=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)	1356	=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
1232		1357
1233	Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither	1358	Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither
…		…
1258	See also C<ev_feed_fd_event> and C<ev_feed_signal_event> for related	1383	See also C<ev_feed_fd_event> and C<ev_feed_signal_event> for related
1259	functions that do not need a watcher.	1384	functions that do not need a watcher.
1260		1385
1261	=back	1386	=back
1262		1387
		1388	See also the L</ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER> and L</BUILDING YOUR
		1389	OWN COMPOSITE WATCHERS> idioms.
1263		1390
1264	=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER	1391	=head2 WATCHER STATES
1265		1392
1266	Each watcher has, by default, a member C<void *data> that you can change	1393	There are various watcher states mentioned throughout this manual -
1267	and read at any time: libev will completely ignore it. This can be used	1394	active, pending and so on. In this section these states and the rules to
1268	to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and	1395	transition between them will be described in more detail - and while these
1269	don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data	1396	rules might look complicated, they usually do "the right thing".
1270	member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own
1271	data:
1272		1397
1273	struct my_io	1398	=over 4
1274	{
1275	ev_io io;
1276	int otherfd;
1277	void *somedata;
1278	struct whatever *mostinteresting;
1279	};
1280		1399
1281	...	1400	=item initialised
1282	struct my_io w;
1283	ev_io_init (&w.io, my_cb, fd, EV_READ);
1284		1401
1285	And since your callback will be called with a pointer to the watcher, you	1402	Before a watcher can be registered with the event loop it has to be
1286	can cast it back to your own type:	1403	initialised. This can be done with a call to C<ev_TYPE_init>, or calls to
		1404	C<ev_init> followed by the watcher-specific C<ev_TYPE_set> function.
1287		1405
1288	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w_, int revents)	1406	In this state it is simply some block of memory that is suitable for
1289	{	1407	use in an event loop. It can be moved around, freed, reused etc. at
1290	struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;	1408	will - as long as you either keep the memory contents intact, or call
1291	...	1409	C<ev_TYPE_init> again.
1292	}
1293		1410
1294	More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type	1411	=item started/running/active
1295	instead have been omitted.
1296		1412
1297	Another common scenario is to use some data structure with multiple	1413	Once a watcher has been started with a call to C<ev_TYPE_start> it becomes
1298	embedded watchers:	1414	property of the event loop, and is actively waiting for events. While in
		1415	this state it cannot be accessed (except in a few documented ways), moved,
		1416	freed or anything else - the only legal thing is to keep a pointer to it,
		1417	and call libev functions on it that are documented to work on active watchers.
1299		1418
1300	struct my_biggy	1419	=item pending
1301	{
1302	int some_data;
1303	ev_timer t1;
1304	ev_timer t2;
1305	}
1306		1420
1307	In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more	1421	If a watcher is active and libev determines that an event it is interested
1308	complicated: Either you store the address of your C<my_biggy> struct	1422	in has occurred (such as a timer expiring), it will become pending. It will
1309	in the C<data> member of the watcher (for woozies), or you need to use	1423	stay in this pending state until either it is stopped or its callback is
1310	some pointer arithmetic using C<offsetof> inside your watchers (for real	1424	about to be invoked, so it is not normally pending inside the watcher
1311	programmers):	1425	callback.
1312		1426
1313	#include <stddef.h>	1427	The watcher might or might not be active while it is pending (for example,
		1428	an expired non-repeating timer can be pending but no longer active). If it
		1429	is stopped, it can be freely accessed (e.g. by calling C<ev_TYPE_set>),
		1430	but it is still property of the event loop at this time, so cannot be
		1431	moved, freed or reused. And if it is active the rules described in the
		1432	previous item still apply.
1314		1433
1315	static void	1434	It is also possible to feed an event on a watcher that is not active (e.g.
1316	t1_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	1435	via C<ev_feed_event>), in which case it becomes pending without being
1317	{	1436	active.
1318	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *)
1319	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
1320	}
1321		1437
1322	static void	1438	=item stopped
1323	t2_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	1439
1324	{	1440	A watcher can be stopped implicitly by libev (in which case it might still
1325	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *)	1441	be pending), or explicitly by calling its C<ev_TYPE_stop> function. The
1326	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));	1442	latter will clear any pending state the watcher might be in, regardless
1327	}	1443	of whether it was active or not, so stopping a watcher explicitly before
		1444	freeing it is often a good idea.
		1445
		1446	While stopped (and not pending) the watcher is essentially in the
		1447	initialised state, that is, it can be reused, moved, modified in any way
		1448	you wish (but when you trash the memory block, you need to C<ev_TYPE_init>
		1449	it again).
		1450
		1451	=back
1328		1452
1329	=head2 WATCHER PRIORITY MODELS	1453	=head2 WATCHER PRIORITY MODELS
1330		1454
1331	Many event loops support I<watcher priorities>, which are usually small	1455	Many event loops support I<watcher priorities>, which are usually small
1332	integers that influence the ordering of event callback invocation	1456	integers that influence the ordering of event callback invocation
…		…
1375		1499
1376	For example, to emulate how many other event libraries handle priorities,	1500	For example, to emulate how many other event libraries handle priorities,
1377	you can associate an C<ev_idle> watcher to each such watcher, and in	1501	you can associate an C<ev_idle> watcher to each such watcher, and in
1378	the normal watcher callback, you just start the idle watcher. The real	1502	the normal watcher callback, you just start the idle watcher. The real
1379	processing is done in the idle watcher callback. This causes libev to	1503	processing is done in the idle watcher callback. This causes libev to
1380	continously poll and process kernel event data for the watcher, but when	1504	continuously poll and process kernel event data for the watcher, but when
1381	the lock-out case is known to be rare (which in turn is rare :), this is	1505	the lock-out case is known to be rare (which in turn is rare :), this is
1382	workable.	1506	workable.
1383		1507
1384	Usually, however, the lock-out model implemented that way will perform	1508	Usually, however, the lock-out model implemented that way will perform
1385	miserably under the type of load it was designed to handle. In that case,	1509	miserably under the type of load it was designed to handle. In that case,
…		…
1399	{	1523	{
1400	// stop the I/O watcher, we received the event, but	1524	// stop the I/O watcher, we received the event, but
1401	// are not yet ready to handle it.	1525	// are not yet ready to handle it.
1402	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w);	1526	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w);
1403		1527
1404	// start the idle watcher to ahndle the actual event.	1528	// start the idle watcher to handle the actual event.
1405	// it will not be executed as long as other watchers	1529	// it will not be executed as long as other watchers
1406	// with the default priority are receiving events.	1530	// with the default priority are receiving events.
1407	ev_idle_start (EV_A_ &idle);	1531	ev_idle_start (EV_A_ &idle);
1408	}	1532	}
1409		1533
…		…
1459	In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per	1583	In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per
1460	fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file	1584	fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file
1461	descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not	1585	descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
1462	required if you know what you are doing).	1586	required if you know what you are doing).
1463		1587
1464	If you cannot use non-blocking mode, then force the use of a
1465	known-to-be-good backend (at the time of this writing, this includes only
1466	C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and C<EVBACKEND_POLL>). The same applies to file
1467	descriptors for which non-blocking operation makes no sense (such as
1468	files) - libev doesn't guarentee any specific behaviour in that case.
1469
1470	Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to	1588	Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
1471	receive "spurious" readiness notifications, that is your callback might	1589	receive "spurious" readiness notifications, that is, your callback might
1472	be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block	1590	be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block
1473	because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a	1591	because there is no data. It is very easy to get into this situation even
1474	lot of those (for example Solaris ports), it is very easy to get into	1592	with a relatively standard program structure. Thus it is best to always
1475	this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus	1593	use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning C<EAGAIN> is far
1476	it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning
1477	C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.	1594	preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.
1478		1595
1479	If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should	1596	If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should
1480	not play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to separately	1597	not play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to separately
1481	re-test whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good	1598	re-test whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good
1482	interface such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already	1599	interface such as poll (fortunately in the case of Xlib, it already does
1483	does this on its own, so its quite safe to use). Some people additionally	1600	this on its own, so its quite safe to use). Some people additionally
1484	use C<SIGALRM> and an interval timer, just to be sure you won't block	1601	use C<SIGALRM> and an interval timer, just to be sure you won't block
1485	indefinitely.	1602	indefinitely.
1486		1603
1487	But really, best use non-blocking mode.	1604	But really, best use non-blocking mode.
1488		1605
…		…
1516		1633
1517	There is no workaround possible except not registering events	1634	There is no workaround possible except not registering events
1518	for potentially C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors, or to resort to	1635	for potentially C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors, or to resort to
1519	C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.	1636	C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1520		1637
		1638	=head3 The special problem of files
		1639
		1640	Many people try to use C<select> (or libev) on file descriptors
		1641	representing files, and expect it to become ready when their program
		1642	doesn't block on disk accesses (which can take a long time on their own).
		1643
		1644	However, this cannot ever work in the "expected" way - you get a readiness
		1645	notification as soon as the kernel knows whether and how much data is
		1646	there, and in the case of open files, that's always the case, so you
		1647	always get a readiness notification instantly, and your read (or possibly
		1648	write) will still block on the disk I/O.
		1649
		1650	Another way to view it is that in the case of sockets, pipes, character
		1651	devices and so on, there is another party (the sender) that delivers data
		1652	on its own, but in the case of files, there is no such thing: the disk
		1653	will not send data on its own, simply because it doesn't know what you
		1654	wish to read - you would first have to request some data.
		1655
		1656	Since files are typically not-so-well supported by advanced notification
		1657	mechanism, libev tries hard to emulate POSIX behaviour with respect
		1658	to files, even though you should not use it. The reason for this is
		1659	convenience: sometimes you want to watch STDIN or STDOUT, which is
		1660	usually a tty, often a pipe, but also sometimes files or special devices
		1661	(for example, C<epoll> on Linux works with F</dev/random> but not with
		1662	F</dev/urandom>), and even though the file might better be served with
		1663	asynchronous I/O instead of with non-blocking I/O, it is still useful when
		1664	it "just works" instead of freezing.
		1665
		1666	So avoid file descriptors pointing to files when you know it (e.g. use
		1667	libeio), but use them when it is convenient, e.g. for STDIN/STDOUT, or
		1668	when you rarely read from a file instead of from a socket, and want to
		1669	reuse the same code path.
		1670
1521	=head3 The special problem of fork	1671	=head3 The special problem of fork
1522		1672
1523	Some backends (epoll, kqueue) do not support C<fork ()> at all or exhibit	1673	Some backends (epoll, kqueue) do not support C<fork ()> at all or exhibit
1524	useless behaviour. Libev fully supports fork, but needs to be told about	1674	useless behaviour. Libev fully supports fork, but needs to be told about
1525	it in the child.	1675	it in the child if you want to continue to use it in the child.
1526		1676
1527	To support fork in your programs, you either have to call	1677	To support fork in your child processes, you have to call C<ev_loop_fork
1528	C<ev_default_fork ()> or C<ev_loop_fork ()> after a fork in the child,	1678	()> after a fork in the child, enable C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>, or resort to
1529	enable C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>, or resort to C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or	1679	C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1530	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1531		1680
1532	=head3 The special problem of SIGPIPE	1681	=head3 The special problem of SIGPIPE
1533		1682
1534	While not really specific to libev, it is easy to forget about C<SIGPIPE>:	1683	While not really specific to libev, it is easy to forget about C<SIGPIPE>:
1535	when writing to a pipe whose other end has been closed, your program gets	1684	when writing to a pipe whose other end has been closed, your program gets
…		…
1541	somewhere, as that would have given you a big clue).	1690	somewhere, as that would have given you a big clue).
1542		1691
1543	=head3 The special problem of accept()ing when you can't	1692	=head3 The special problem of accept()ing when you can't
1544		1693
1545	Many implementations of the POSIX C<accept> function (for example,	1694	Many implementations of the POSIX C<accept> function (for example,
1546	found in port-2004 Linux) have the peculiar behaviour of not removing a	1695	found in post-2004 Linux) have the peculiar behaviour of not removing a
1547	connection from the pending queue in all error cases.	1696	connection from the pending queue in all error cases.
1548		1697
1549	For example, larger servers often run out of file descriptors (because	1698	For example, larger servers often run out of file descriptors (because
1550	of resource limits), causing C<accept> to fail with C<ENFILE> but not	1699	of resource limits), causing C<accept> to fail with C<ENFILE> but not
1551	rejecting the connection, leading to libev signalling readiness on	1700	rejecting the connection, leading to libev signalling readiness on
…		…
1617	...	1766	...
1618	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);	1767	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
1619	ev_io stdin_readable;	1768	ev_io stdin_readable;
1620	ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);	1769	ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
1621	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);	1770	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);
1622	ev_loop (loop, 0);	1771	ev_run (loop, 0);
1623		1772
1624		1773
1625	=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts	1774	=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts
1626		1775
1627	Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a	1776	Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a
…		…
1633	detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the	1782	detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the
1634	monotonic clock option helps a lot here).	1783	monotonic clock option helps a lot here).
1635		1784
1636	The callback is guaranteed to be invoked only I<after> its timeout has	1785	The callback is guaranteed to be invoked only I<after> its timeout has
1637	passed (not I<at>, so on systems with very low-resolution clocks this	1786	passed (not I<at>, so on systems with very low-resolution clocks this
1638	might introduce a small delay). If multiple timers become ready during the	1787	might introduce a small delay, see "the special problem of being too
		1788	early", below). If multiple timers become ready during the same loop
1639	same loop iteration then the ones with earlier time-out values are invoked	1789	iteration then the ones with earlier time-out values are invoked before
1640	before ones of the same priority with later time-out values (but this is	1790	ones of the same priority with later time-out values (but this is no
1641	no longer true when a callback calls C<ev_loop> recursively).	1791	longer true when a callback calls C<ev_run> recursively).
1642		1792
1643	=head3 Be smart about timeouts	1793	=head3 Be smart about timeouts
1644		1794
1645	Many real-world problems involve some kind of timeout, usually for error	1795	Many real-world problems involve some kind of timeout, usually for error
1646	recovery. A typical example is an HTTP request - if the other side hangs,	1796	recovery. A typical example is an HTTP request - if the other side hangs,
…		…
1721		1871
1722	In this case, it would be more efficient to leave the C<ev_timer> alone,	1872	In this case, it would be more efficient to leave the C<ev_timer> alone,
1723	but remember the time of last activity, and check for a real timeout only	1873	but remember the time of last activity, and check for a real timeout only
1724	within the callback:	1874	within the callback:
1725		1875
		1876	ev_tstamp timeout = 60.;
1726	ev_tstamp last_activity; // time of last activity	1877	ev_tstamp last_activity; // time of last activity
		1878	ev_timer timer;
1727		1879
1728	static void	1880	static void
1729	callback (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	1881	callback (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1730	{	1882	{
1731	ev_tstamp now = ev_now (EV_A);	1883	// calculate when the timeout would happen
1732	ev_tstamp timeout = last_activity + 60.;	1884	ev_tstamp after = last_activity - ev_now (EV_A) + timeout;
1733		1885
1734	// if last_activity + 60. is older than now, we did time out	1886	// if negative, it means we the timeout already occurred
1735	if (timeout < now)	1887	if (after < 0.)
1736	{	1888	{
1737	// timeout occured, take action	1889	// timeout occurred, take action
1738	}	1890	}
1739	else	1891	else
1740	{	1892	{
1741	// callback was invoked, but there was some activity, re-arm	1893	// callback was invoked, but there was some recent
1742	// the watcher to fire in last_activity + 60, which is	1894	// activity. simply restart the timer to time out
1743	// guaranteed to be in the future, so "again" is positive:	1895	// after "after" seconds, which is the earliest time
1744	w->repeat = timeout - now;	1896	// the timeout can occur.
		1897	ev_timer_set (w, after, 0.);
1745	ev_timer_again (EV_A_ w);	1898	ev_timer_start (EV_A_ w);
1746	}	1899	}
1747	}	1900	}
1748		1901
1749	To summarise the callback: first calculate the real timeout (defined	1902	To summarise the callback: first calculate in how many seconds the
1750	as "60 seconds after the last activity"), then check if that time has	1903	timeout will occur (by calculating the absolute time when it would occur,
1751	been reached, which means something I<did>, in fact, time out. Otherwise	1904	C<last_activity + timeout>, and subtracting the current time, C<ev_now
1752	the callback was invoked too early (C<timeout> is in the future), so	1905	(EV_A)> from that).
1753	re-schedule the timer to fire at that future time, to see if maybe we have
1754	a timeout then.
1755		1906
1756	Note how C<ev_timer_again> is used, taking advantage of the	1907	If this value is negative, then we are already past the timeout, i.e. we
1757	C<ev_timer_again> optimisation when the timer is already running.	1908	timed out, and need to do whatever is needed in this case.
		1909
		1910	Otherwise, we now the earliest time at which the timeout would trigger,
		1911	and simply start the timer with this timeout value.
		1912
		1913	In other words, each time the callback is invoked it will check whether
		1914	the timeout occurred. If not, it will simply reschedule itself to check
		1915	again at the earliest time it could time out. Rinse. Repeat.
1758		1916
1759	This scheme causes more callback invocations (about one every 60 seconds	1917	This scheme causes more callback invocations (about one every 60 seconds
1760	minus half the average time between activity), but virtually no calls to	1918	minus half the average time between activity), but virtually no calls to
1761	libev to change the timeout.	1919	libev to change the timeout.
1762		1920
1763	To start the timer, simply initialise the watcher and set C<last_activity>	1921	To start the machinery, simply initialise the watcher and set
1764	to the current time (meaning we just have some activity :), then call the	1922	C<last_activity> to the current time (meaning there was some activity just
1765	callback, which will "do the right thing" and start the timer:	1923	now), then call the callback, which will "do the right thing" and start
		1924	the timer:
1766		1925
		1926	last_activity = ev_now (EV_A);
1767	ev_init (timer, callback);	1927	ev_init (&timer, callback);
1768	last_activity = ev_now (loop);	1928	callback (EV_A_ &timer, 0);
1769	callback (loop, timer, EV_TIMEOUT);
1770		1929
1771	And when there is some activity, simply store the current time in	1930	When there is some activity, simply store the current time in
1772	C<last_activity>, no libev calls at all:	1931	C<last_activity>, no libev calls at all:
1773		1932
		1933	if (activity detected)
1774	last_actiivty = ev_now (loop);	1934	last_activity = ev_now (EV_A);
		1935
		1936	When your timeout value changes, then the timeout can be changed by simply
		1937	providing a new value, stopping the timer and calling the callback, which
		1938	will again do the right thing (for example, time out immediately :).
		1939
		1940	timeout = new_value;
		1941	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &timer);
		1942	callback (EV_A_ &timer, 0);
1775		1943
1776	This technique is slightly more complex, but in most cases where the	1944	This technique is slightly more complex, but in most cases where the
1777	time-out is unlikely to be triggered, much more efficient.	1945	time-out is unlikely to be triggered, much more efficient.
1778
1779	Changing the timeout is trivial as well (if it isn't hard-coded in the
1780	callback :) - just change the timeout and invoke the callback, which will
1781	fix things for you.
1782		1946
1783	=item 4. Wee, just use a double-linked list for your timeouts.	1947	=item 4. Wee, just use a double-linked list for your timeouts.
1784		1948
1785	If there is not one request, but many thousands (millions...), all	1949	If there is not one request, but many thousands (millions...), all
1786	employing some kind of timeout with the same timeout value, then one can	1950	employing some kind of timeout with the same timeout value, then one can
…		…
1813	Method #1 is almost always a bad idea, and buys you nothing. Method #4 is	1977	Method #1 is almost always a bad idea, and buys you nothing. Method #4 is
1814	rather complicated, but extremely efficient, something that really pays	1978	rather complicated, but extremely efficient, something that really pays
1815	off after the first million or so of active timers, i.e. it's usually	1979	off after the first million or so of active timers, i.e. it's usually
1816	overkill :)	1980	overkill :)
1817		1981
		1982	=head3 The special problem of being too early
		1983
		1984	If you ask a timer to call your callback after three seconds, then
		1985	you expect it to be invoked after three seconds - but of course, this
		1986	cannot be guaranteed to infinite precision. Less obviously, it cannot be
		1987	guaranteed to any precision by libev - imagine somebody suspending the
		1988	process with a STOP signal for a few hours for example.
		1989
		1990	So, libev tries to invoke your callback as soon as possible I<after> the
		1991	delay has occurred, but cannot guarantee this.
		1992
		1993	A less obvious failure mode is calling your callback too early: many event
		1994	loops compare timestamps with a "elapsed delay >= requested delay", but
		1995	this can cause your callback to be invoked much earlier than you would
		1996	expect.
		1997
		1998	To see why, imagine a system with a clock that only offers full second
		1999	resolution (think windows if you can't come up with a broken enough OS
		2000	yourself). If you schedule a one-second timer at the time 500.9, then the
		2001	event loop will schedule your timeout to elapse at a system time of 500
		2002	(500.9 truncated to the resolution) + 1, or 501.
		2003
		2004	If an event library looks at the timeout 0.1s later, it will see "501 >=
		2005	501" and invoke the callback 0.1s after it was started, even though a
		2006	one-second delay was requested - this is being "too early", despite best
		2007	intentions.
		2008
		2009	This is the reason why libev will never invoke the callback if the elapsed
		2010	delay equals the requested delay, but only when the elapsed delay is
		2011	larger than the requested delay. In the example above, libev would only invoke
		2012	the callback at system time 502, or 1.1s after the timer was started.
		2013
		2014	So, while libev cannot guarantee that your callback will be invoked
		2015	exactly when requested, it I<can> and I<does> guarantee that the requested
		2016	delay has actually elapsed, or in other words, it always errs on the "too
		2017	late" side of things.
		2018
1818	=head3 The special problem of time updates	2019	=head3 The special problem of time updates
1819		2020
1820	Establishing the current time is a costly operation (it usually takes at	2021	Establishing the current time is a costly operation (it usually takes
1821	least two system calls): EV therefore updates its idea of the current	2022	at least one system call): EV therefore updates its idea of the current
1822	time only before and after C<ev_loop> collects new events, which causes a	2023	time only before and after C<ev_run> collects new events, which causes a
1823	growing difference between C<ev_now ()> and C<ev_time ()> when handling	2024	growing difference between C<ev_now ()> and C<ev_time ()> when handling
1824	lots of events in one iteration.	2025	lots of events in one iteration.
1825		2026
1826	The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>	2027	The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>
1827	time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time	2028	time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time
…		…
1832	ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);	2033	ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);
1833		2034
1834	If the event loop is suspended for a long time, you can also force an	2035	If the event loop is suspended for a long time, you can also force an
1835	update of the time returned by C<ev_now ()> by calling C<ev_now_update	2036	update of the time returned by C<ev_now ()> by calling C<ev_now_update
1836	()>.	2037	()>.
		2038
		2039	=head3 The special problem of unsynchronised clocks
		2040
		2041	Modern systems have a variety of clocks - libev itself uses the normal
		2042	"wall clock" clock and, if available, the monotonic clock (to avoid time
		2043	jumps).
		2044
		2045	Neither of these clocks is synchronised with each other or any other clock
		2046	on the system, so C<ev_time ()> might return a considerably different time
		2047	than C<gettimeofday ()> or C<time ()>. On a GNU/Linux system, for example,
		2048	a call to C<gettimeofday> might return a second count that is one higher
		2049	than a directly following call to C<time>.
		2050
		2051	The moral of this is to only compare libev-related timestamps with
		2052	C<ev_time ()> and C<ev_now ()>, at least if you want better precision than
		2053	a second or so.
		2054
		2055	One more problem arises due to this lack of synchronisation: if libev uses
		2056	the system monotonic clock and you compare timestamps from C<ev_time>
		2057	or C<ev_now> from when you started your timer and when your callback is
		2058	invoked, you will find that sometimes the callback is a bit "early".
		2059
		2060	This is because C<ev_timer>s work in real time, not wall clock time, so
		2061	libev makes sure your callback is not invoked before the delay happened,
		2062	I<measured according to the real time>, not the system clock.
		2063
		2064	If your timeouts are based on a physical timescale (e.g. "time out this
		2065	connection after 100 seconds") then this shouldn't bother you as it is
		2066	exactly the right behaviour.
		2067
		2068	If you want to compare wall clock/system timestamps to your timers, then
		2069	you need to use C<ev_periodic>s, as these are based on the wall clock
		2070	time, where your comparisons will always generate correct results.
1837		2071
1838	=head3 The special problems of suspended animation	2072	=head3 The special problems of suspended animation
1839		2073
1840	When you leave the server world it is quite customary to hit machines that	2074	When you leave the server world it is quite customary to hit machines that
1841	can suspend/hibernate - what happens to the clocks during such a suspend?	2075	can suspend/hibernate - what happens to the clocks during such a suspend?
…		…
1885	keep up with the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to	2119	keep up with the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to
1886	do stuff) the timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.	2120	do stuff) the timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.
1887		2121
1888	=item ev_timer_again (loop, ev_timer *)	2122	=item ev_timer_again (loop, ev_timer *)
1889		2123
1890	This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is	2124	This will act as if the timer timed out, and restarts it again if it is
1891	repeating. The exact semantics are:	2125	repeating. It basically works like calling C<ev_timer_stop>, updating the
		2126	timeout to the C<repeat> value and calling C<ev_timer_start>.
1892		2127
		2128	The exact semantics are as in the following rules, all of which will be
		2129	applied to the watcher:
		2130
		2131	=over 4
		2132
1893	If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.	2133	=item If the timer is pending, the pending status is always cleared.
1894		2134
1895	If the timer is started but non-repeating, stop it (as if it timed out).	2135	=item If the timer is started but non-repeating, stop it (as if it timed
		2136	out, without invoking it).
1896		2137
1897	If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the	2138	=item If the timer is repeating, make the C<repeat> value the new timeout
1898	C<repeat> value), or reset the running timer to the C<repeat> value.	2139	and start the timer, if necessary.
1899		2140
		2141	=back
		2142
1900	This sounds a bit complicated, see L<Be smart about timeouts>, above, for a	2143	This sounds a bit complicated, see L</Be smart about timeouts>, above, for a
1901	usage example.	2144	usage example.
1902		2145
1903	=item ev_tstamp ev_timer_remaining (loop, ev_timer *)	2146	=item ev_tstamp ev_timer_remaining (loop, ev_timer *)
1904		2147
1905	Returns the remaining time until a timer fires. If the timer is active,	2148	Returns the remaining time until a timer fires. If the timer is active,
…		…
1944	}	2187	}
1945		2188
1946	ev_timer mytimer;	2189	ev_timer mytimer;
1947	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */	2190	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */
1948	ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */	2191	ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */
1949	ev_loop (loop, 0);	2192	ev_run (loop, 0);
1950		2193
1951	// and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":	2194	// and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":
1952	// reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds	2195	// reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds
1953	ev_timer_again (&mytimer);	2196	ev_timer_again (&mytimer);
1954		2197
…		…
1980		2223
1981	As with timers, the callback is guaranteed to be invoked only when the	2224	As with timers, the callback is guaranteed to be invoked only when the
1982	point in time where it is supposed to trigger has passed. If multiple	2225	point in time where it is supposed to trigger has passed. If multiple
1983	timers become ready during the same loop iteration then the ones with	2226	timers become ready during the same loop iteration then the ones with
1984	earlier time-out values are invoked before ones with later time-out values	2227	earlier time-out values are invoked before ones with later time-out values
1985	(but this is no longer true when a callback calls C<ev_loop> recursively).	2228	(but this is no longer true when a callback calls C<ev_run> recursively).
1986		2229
1987	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	2230	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1988		2231
1989	=over 4	2232	=over 4
1990		2233
…		…
2025		2268
2026	Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that	2269	Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
2027	C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible	2270	C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
2028	time where C<time = offset (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.	2271	time where C<time = offset (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.
2029		2272
2030	For numerical stability it is preferable that the C<offset> value is near	2273	The C<interval> I<MUST> be positive, and for numerical stability, the
2031	C<ev_now ()> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for	2274	interval value should be higher than C<1/8192> (which is around 100
2032	this value, and in fact is often specified as zero.	2275	microseconds) and C<offset> should be higher than C<0> and should have
		2276	at most a similar magnitude as the current time (say, within a factor of
		2277	ten). Typical values for offset are, in fact, C<0> or something between
		2278	C<0> and C<interval>, which is also the recommended range.
2033		2279
2034	Note also that there is an upper limit to how often a timer can fire (CPU	2280	Note also that there is an upper limit to how often a timer can fire (CPU
2035	speed for example), so if C<interval> is very small then timing stability	2281	speed for example), so if C<interval> is very small then timing stability
2036	will of course deteriorate. Libev itself tries to be exact to be about one	2282	will of course deteriorate. Libev itself tries to be exact to be about one
2037	millisecond (if the OS supports it and the machine is fast enough).	2283	millisecond (if the OS supports it and the machine is fast enough).
…		…
2118	Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the	2364	Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
2119	system time is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have	2365	system time is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
2120	potentially a lot of jitter, but good long-term stability.	2366	potentially a lot of jitter, but good long-term stability.
2121		2367
2122	static void	2368	static void
2123	clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)	2369	clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_periodic *w, int revents)
2124	{	2370	{
2125	... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)	2371	... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)
2126	}	2372	}
2127		2373
2128	ev_periodic hourly_tick;	2374	ev_periodic hourly_tick;
…		…
2151		2397
2152	=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!	2398	=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!
2153		2399
2154	Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific	2400	Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
2155	signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev	2401	signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev
2156	will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the	2402	will try its best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the
2157	normal event processing, like any other event.	2403	normal event processing, like any other event.
2158		2404
2159	If you want signals to be delivered truly asynchronously, just use	2405	If you want signals to be delivered truly asynchronously, just use
2160	C<sigaction> as you would do without libev and forget about sharing	2406	C<sigaction> as you would do without libev and forget about sharing
2161	the signal. You can even use C<ev_async> from a signal handler to	2407	the signal. You can even use C<ev_async> from a signal handler to
…		…
2180	=head3 The special problem of inheritance over fork/execve/pthread_create	2426	=head3 The special problem of inheritance over fork/execve/pthread_create
2181		2427
2182	Both the signal mask (C<sigprocmask>) and the signal disposition	2428	Both the signal mask (C<sigprocmask>) and the signal disposition
2183	(C<sigaction>) are unspecified after starting a signal watcher (and after	2429	(C<sigaction>) are unspecified after starting a signal watcher (and after
2184	stopping it again), that is, libev might or might not block the signal,	2430	stopping it again), that is, libev might or might not block the signal,
2185	and might or might not set or restore the installed signal handler.	2431	and might or might not set or restore the installed signal handler (but
		2432	see C<EVFLAG_NOSIGMASK>).
2186		2433
2187	While this does not matter for the signal disposition (libev never	2434	While this does not matter for the signal disposition (libev never
2188	sets signals to C<SIG_IGN>, so handlers will be reset to C<SIG_DFL> on	2435	sets signals to C<SIG_IGN>, so handlers will be reset to C<SIG_DFL> on
2189	C<execve>), this matters for the signal mask: many programs do not expect	2436	C<execve>), this matters for the signal mask: many programs do not expect
2190	certain signals to be blocked.	2437	certain signals to be blocked.
…		…
2204		2451
2205	So I can't stress this enough: I<If you do not reset your signal mask when	2452	So I can't stress this enough: I<If you do not reset your signal mask when
2206	you expect it to be empty, you have a race condition in your code>. This	2453	you expect it to be empty, you have a race condition in your code>. This
2207	is not a libev-specific thing, this is true for most event libraries.	2454	is not a libev-specific thing, this is true for most event libraries.
2208		2455
		2456	=head3 The special problem of threads signal handling
		2457
		2458	POSIX threads has problematic signal handling semantics, specifically,
		2459	a lot of functionality (sigfd, sigwait etc.) only really works if all
		2460	threads in a process block signals, which is hard to achieve.
		2461
		2462	When you want to use sigwait (or mix libev signal handling with your own
		2463	for the same signals), you can tackle this problem by globally blocking
		2464	all signals before creating any threads (or creating them with a fully set
		2465	sigprocmask) and also specifying the C<EVFLAG_NOSIGMASK> when creating
		2466	loops. Then designate one thread as "signal receiver thread" which handles
		2467	these signals. You can pass on any signals that libev might be interested
		2468	in by calling C<ev_feed_signal>.
		2469
2209	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	2470	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2210		2471
2211	=over 4	2472	=over 4
2212		2473
2213	=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)	2474	=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)
…		…
2228	Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT.	2489	Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT.
2229		2490
2230	static void	2491	static void
2231	sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_signal *w, int revents)	2492	sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_signal *w, int revents)
2232	{	2493	{
2233	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);	2494	ev_break (loop, EVBREAK_ALL);
2234	}	2495	}
2235		2496
2236	ev_signal signal_watcher;	2497	ev_signal signal_watcher;
2237	ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);	2498	ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);
2238	ev_signal_start (loop, &signal_watcher);	2499	ev_signal_start (loop, &signal_watcher);
…		…
2347		2608
2348	=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?	2609	=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?
2349		2610
2350	This watches a file system path for attribute changes. That is, it calls	2611	This watches a file system path for attribute changes. That is, it calls
2351	C<stat> on that path in regular intervals (or when the OS says it changed)	2612	C<stat> on that path in regular intervals (or when the OS says it changed)
2352	and sees if it changed compared to the last time, invoking the callback if	2613	and sees if it changed compared to the last time, invoking the callback
2353	it did.	2614	if it did. Starting the watcher C<stat>'s the file, so only changes that
		2615	happen after the watcher has been started will be reported.
2354		2616
2355	The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does	2617	The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does
2356	not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does not	2618	not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does not
2357	exist" (or more correctly "path cannot be stat'ed") is signified by the	2619	exist" (or more correctly "path cannot be stat'ed") is signified by the
2358	C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is otherwise always forced to be at	2620	C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is otherwise always forced to be at
…		…
2588	Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful	2850	Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful
2589	effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do	2851	effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do
2590	"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the	2852	"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the
2591	event loop has handled all outstanding events.	2853	event loop has handled all outstanding events.
2592		2854
		2855	=head3 Abusing an C<ev_idle> watcher for its side-effect
		2856
		2857	As long as there is at least one active idle watcher, libev will never
		2858	sleep unnecessarily. Or in other words, it will loop as fast as possible.
		2859	For this to work, the idle watcher doesn't need to be invoked at all - the
		2860	lowest priority will do.
		2861
		2862	This mode of operation can be useful together with an C<ev_check> watcher,
		2863	to do something on each event loop iteration - for example to balance load
		2864	between different connections.
		2865
		2866	See L</Abusing an ev_check watcher for its side-effect> for a longer
		2867	example.
		2868
2593	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	2869	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2594		2870
2595	=over 4	2871	=over 4
2596		2872
2597	=item ev_idle_init (ev_idle *, callback)	2873	=item ev_idle_init (ev_idle *, callback)
…		…
2608	callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.	2884	callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.
2609		2885
2610	static void	2886	static void
2611	idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_idle *w, int revents)	2887	idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_idle *w, int revents)
2612	{	2888	{
		2889	// stop the watcher
		2890	ev_idle_stop (loop, w);
		2891
		2892	// now we can free it
2613	free (w);	2893	free (w);
		2894
2614	// now do something you wanted to do when the program has	2895	// now do something you wanted to do when the program has
2615	// no longer anything immediate to do.	2896	// no longer anything immediate to do.
2616	}	2897	}
2617		2898
2618	ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (ev_idle));	2899	ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (ev_idle));
…		…
2620	ev_idle_start (loop, idle_watcher);	2901	ev_idle_start (loop, idle_watcher);
2621		2902
2622		2903
2623	=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!	2904	=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!
2624		2905
2625	Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in pairs:	2906	Prepare and check watchers are often (but not always) used in pairs:
2626	prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers	2907	prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers
2627	afterwards.	2908	afterwards.
2628		2909
2629	You I<must not> call C<ev_loop> or similar functions that enter	2910	You I<must not> call C<ev_run> or similar functions that enter
2630	the current event loop from either C<ev_prepare> or C<ev_check>	2911	the current event loop from either C<ev_prepare> or C<ev_check>
2631	watchers. Other loops than the current one are fine, however. The	2912	watchers. Other loops than the current one are fine, however. The
2632	rationale behind this is that you do not need to check for recursion in	2913	rationale behind this is that you do not need to check for recursion in
2633	those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be C<ev_prepare>, blocking,	2914	those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be C<ev_prepare>, blocking,
2634	C<ev_check> so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be	2915	C<ev_check> so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be
…		…
2658	with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine	2939	with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine
2659	of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event	2940	of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
2660	loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping	2941	loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
2661	low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).	2942	low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).
2662		2943
2663	It is recommended to give C<ev_check> watchers highest (C<EV_MAXPRI>)	2944	When used for this purpose, it is recommended to give C<ev_check> watchers
2664	priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers	2945	highest (C<EV_MAXPRI>) priority, to ensure that they are being run before
2665	after the poll (this doesn't matter for C<ev_prepare> watchers).	2946	any other watchers after the poll (this doesn't matter for C<ev_prepare>
		2947	watchers).
2666		2948
2667	Also, C<ev_check> watchers (and C<ev_prepare> watchers, too) should not	2949	Also, C<ev_check> watchers (and C<ev_prepare> watchers, too) should not
2668	activate ("feed") events into libev. While libev fully supports this, they	2950	activate ("feed") events into libev. While libev fully supports this, they
2669	might get executed before other C<ev_check> watchers did their job. As	2951	might get executed before other C<ev_check> watchers did their job. As
2670	C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other (non-libev) event	2952	C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other (non-libev) event
2671	loops those other event loops might be in an unusable state until their	2953	loops those other event loops might be in an unusable state until their
2672	C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to coexist peacefully with	2954	C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to coexist peacefully with
2673	others).	2955	others).
		2956
		2957	=head3 Abusing an C<ev_check> watcher for its side-effect
		2958
		2959	C<ev_check> (and less often also C<ev_prepare>) watchers can also be
		2960	useful because they are called once per event loop iteration. For
		2961	example, if you want to handle a large number of connections fairly, you
		2962	normally only do a bit of work for each active connection, and if there
		2963	is more work to do, you wait for the next event loop iteration, so other
		2964	connections have a chance of making progress.
		2965
		2966	Using an C<ev_check> watcher is almost enough: it will be called on the
		2967	next event loop iteration. However, that isn't as soon as possible -
		2968	without external events, your C<ev_check> watcher will not be invoked.
		2969
		2970	This is where C<ev_idle> watchers come in handy - all you need is a
		2971	single global idle watcher that is active as long as you have one active
		2972	C<ev_check> watcher. The C<ev_idle> watcher makes sure the event loop
		2973	will not sleep, and the C<ev_check> watcher makes sure a callback gets
		2974	invoked. Neither watcher alone can do that.
2674		2975
2675	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	2976	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2676		2977
2677	=over 4	2978	=over 4
2678		2979
…		…
2802		3103
2803	if (timeout >= 0)	3104	if (timeout >= 0)
2804	// create/start timer	3105	// create/start timer
2805		3106
2806	// poll	3107	// poll
2807	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);	3108	ev_run (EV_A_ 0);
2808		3109
2809	// stop timer again	3110	// stop timer again
2810	if (timeout >= 0)	3111	if (timeout >= 0)
2811	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &to);	3112	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &to);
2812		3113
…		…
2879		3180
2880	=over 4	3181	=over 4
2881		3182
2882	=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)	3183	=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
2883		3184
2884	=item ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)	3185	=item ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
2885		3186
2886	Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be	3187	Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be
2887	embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be	3188	embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be
2888	invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback	3189	invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback
2889	to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,	3190	to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,
2890	if you do not want that, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).	3191	if you do not want that, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).
2891		3192
2892	=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)	3193	=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)
2893		3194
2894	Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works	3195	Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works
2895	similarly to C<ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)>, but in the most	3196	similarly to C<ev_run (embedded_loop, EVRUN_NOWAIT)>, but in the most
2896	appropriate way for embedded loops.	3197	appropriate way for embedded loops.
2897		3198
2898	=item struct ev_loop *other [read-only]	3199	=item struct ev_loop *other [read-only]
2899		3200
2900	The embedded event loop.	3201	The embedded event loop.
…		…
2952		3253
2953	=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork	3254	=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork
2954		3255
2955	Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because	3256	Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because
2956	whoever is a good citizen cared to tell libev about it by calling	3257	whoever is a good citizen cared to tell libev about it by calling
2957	C<ev_default_fork> or C<ev_loop_fork>). The invocation is done before the	3258	C<ev_loop_fork>). The invocation is done before the event loop blocks next
2958	event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,	3259	and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called, and only in the child
2959	and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling	3260	after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling C<ev_default_fork> cheats
2960	C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork	3261	and calls it in the wrong process, the fork handlers will be invoked, too,
2961	handlers will be invoked, too, of course.	3262	of course.
2962		3263
2963	=head3 The special problem of life after fork - how is it possible?	3264	=head3 The special problem of life after fork - how is it possible?
2964		3265
2965	Most uses of C<fork()> consist of forking, then some simple calls to ste	3266	Most uses of C<fork()> consist of forking, then some simple calls to set
2966	up/change the process environment, followed by a call to C<exec()>. This	3267	up/change the process environment, followed by a call to C<exec()>. This
2967	sequence should be handled by libev without any problems.	3268	sequence should be handled by libev without any problems.
2968		3269
2969	This changes when the application actually wants to do event handling	3270	This changes when the application actually wants to do event handling
2970	in the child, or both parent in child, in effect "continuing" after the	3271	in the child, or both parent in child, in effect "continuing" after the
…		…
2986	disadvantage of having to use multiple event loops (which do not support	3287	disadvantage of having to use multiple event loops (which do not support
2987	signal watchers).	3288	signal watchers).
2988		3289
2989	When this is not possible, or you want to use the default loop for	3290	When this is not possible, or you want to use the default loop for
2990	other reasons, then in the process that wants to start "fresh", call	3291	other reasons, then in the process that wants to start "fresh", call
2991	C<ev_default_destroy ()> followed by C<ev_default_loop (...)>. Destroying	3292	C<ev_loop_destroy (EV_DEFAULT)> followed by C<ev_default_loop (...)>.
2992	the default loop will "orphan" (not stop) all registered watchers, so you	3293	Destroying the default loop will "orphan" (not stop) all registered
2993	have to be careful not to execute code that modifies those watchers. Note	3294	watchers, so you have to be careful not to execute code that modifies
2994	also that in that case, you have to re-register any signal watchers.	3295	those watchers. Note also that in that case, you have to re-register any
		3296	signal watchers.
2995		3297
2996	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members	3298	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2997		3299
2998	=over 4	3300	=over 4
2999		3301
3000	=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)	3302	=item ev_fork_init (ev_fork *, callback)
3001		3303
3002	Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any	3304	Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
3003	kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,	3305	kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
3004	believe me.	3306	really.
3005		3307
3006	=back	3308	=back
3007		3309
3008		3310
		3311	=head2 C<ev_cleanup> - even the best things end
		3312
		3313	Cleanup watchers are called just before the event loop is being destroyed
		3314	by a call to C<ev_loop_destroy>.
		3315
		3316	While there is no guarantee that the event loop gets destroyed, cleanup
		3317	watchers provide a convenient method to install cleanup hooks for your
		3318	program, worker threads and so on - you just to make sure to destroy the
		3319	loop when you want them to be invoked.
		3320
		3321	Cleanup watchers are invoked in the same way as any other watcher. Unlike
		3322	all other watchers, they do not keep a reference to the event loop (which
		3323	makes a lot of sense if you think about it). Like all other watchers, you
		3324	can call libev functions in the callback, except C<ev_cleanup_start>.
		3325
		3326	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		3327
		3328	=over 4
		3329
		3330	=item ev_cleanup_init (ev_cleanup *, callback)
		3331
		3332	Initialises and configures the cleanup watcher - it has no parameters of
		3333	any kind. There is a C<ev_cleanup_set> macro, but using it is utterly
		3334	pointless, I assure you.
		3335
		3336	=back
		3337
		3338	Example: Register an atexit handler to destroy the default loop, so any
		3339	cleanup functions are called.
		3340
		3341	static void
		3342	program_exits (void)
		3343	{
		3344	ev_loop_destroy (EV_DEFAULT_UC);
		3345	}
		3346
		3347	...
		3348	atexit (program_exits);
		3349
		3350
3009	=head2 C<ev_async> - how to wake up another event loop	3351	=head2 C<ev_async> - how to wake up an event loop
3010		3352
3011	In general, you cannot use an C<ev_loop> from multiple threads or other	3353	In general, you cannot use an C<ev_loop> from multiple threads or other
3012	asynchronous sources such as signal handlers (as opposed to multiple event	3354	asynchronous sources such as signal handlers (as opposed to multiple event
3013	loops - those are of course safe to use in different threads).	3355	loops - those are of course safe to use in different threads).
3014		3356
3015	Sometimes, however, you need to wake up another event loop you do not	3357	Sometimes, however, you need to wake up an event loop you do not control,
3016	control, for example because it belongs to another thread. This is what	3358	for example because it belongs to another thread. This is what C<ev_async>
3017	C<ev_async> watchers do: as long as the C<ev_async> watcher is active, you	3359	watchers do: as long as the C<ev_async> watcher is active, you can signal
3018	can signal it by calling C<ev_async_send>, which is thread- and signal	3360	it by calling C<ev_async_send>, which is thread- and signal safe.
3019	safe.
3020		3361
3021	This functionality is very similar to C<ev_signal> watchers, as signals,	3362	This functionality is very similar to C<ev_signal> watchers, as signals,
3022	too, are asynchronous in nature, and signals, too, will be compressed	3363	too, are asynchronous in nature, and signals, too, will be compressed
3023	(i.e. the number of callback invocations may be less than the number of	3364	(i.e. the number of callback invocations may be less than the number of
3024	C<ev_async_sent> calls).	3365	C<ev_async_send> calls). In fact, you could use signal watchers as a kind
3025		3366	of "global async watchers" by using a watcher on an otherwise unused
3026	Unlike C<ev_signal> watchers, C<ev_async> works with any event loop, not	3367	signal, and C<ev_feed_signal> to signal this watcher from another thread,
3027	just the default loop.	3368	even without knowing which loop owns the signal.
3028		3369
3029	=head3 Queueing	3370	=head3 Queueing
3030		3371
3031	C<ev_async> does not support queueing of data in any way. The reason	3372	C<ev_async> does not support queueing of data in any way. The reason
3032	is that the author does not know of a simple (or any) algorithm for a	3373	is that the author does not know of a simple (or any) algorithm for a
…		…
3124	trust me.	3465	trust me.
3125		3466
3126	=item ev_async_send (loop, ev_async *)	3467	=item ev_async_send (loop, ev_async *)
3127		3468
3128	Sends/signals/activates the given C<ev_async> watcher, that is, feeds	3469	Sends/signals/activates the given C<ev_async> watcher, that is, feeds
3129	an C<EV_ASYNC> event on the watcher into the event loop. Unlike	3470	an C<EV_ASYNC> event on the watcher into the event loop, and instantly
		3471	returns.
		3472
3130	C<ev_feed_event>, this call is safe to do from other threads, signal or	3473	Unlike C<ev_feed_event>, this call is safe to do from other threads,
3131	similar contexts (see the discussion of C<EV_ATOMIC_T> in the embedding	3474	signal or similar contexts (see the discussion of C<EV_ATOMIC_T> in the
3132	section below on what exactly this means).	3475	embedding section below on what exactly this means).
3133		3476
3134	Note that, as with other watchers in libev, multiple events might get	3477	Note that, as with other watchers in libev, multiple events might get
3135	compressed into a single callback invocation (another way to look at this	3478	compressed into a single callback invocation (another way to look at
3136	is that C<ev_async> watchers are level-triggered, set on C<ev_async_send>,	3479	this is that C<ev_async> watchers are level-triggered: they are set on
3137	reset when the event loop detects that).	3480	C<ev_async_send>, reset when the event loop detects that).
3138		3481
3139	This call incurs the overhead of a system call only once per event loop	3482	This call incurs the overhead of at most one extra system call per event
3140	iteration, so while the overhead might be noticeable, it doesn't apply to	3483	loop iteration, if the event loop is blocked, and no syscall at all if
3141	repeated calls to C<ev_async_send> for the same event loop.	3484	the event loop (or your program) is processing events. That means that
		3485	repeated calls are basically free (there is no need to avoid calls for
		3486	performance reasons) and that the overhead becomes smaller (typically
		3487	zero) under load.
3142		3488
3143	=item bool = ev_async_pending (ev_async *)	3489	=item bool = ev_async_pending (ev_async *)
3144		3490
3145	Returns a non-zero value when C<ev_async_send> has been called on the	3491	Returns a non-zero value when C<ev_async_send> has been called on the
3146	watcher but the event has not yet been processed (or even noted) by the	3492	watcher but the event has not yet been processed (or even noted) by the
…		…
3179		3525
3180	If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be	3526	If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be
3181	started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and	3527	started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and
3182	repeat = 0) will be started. C<0> is a valid timeout.	3528	repeat = 0) will be started. C<0> is a valid timeout.
3183		3529
3184	The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and gets	3530	The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and is
3185	passed an C<revents> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of	3531	passed an C<revents> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of
3186	C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMEOUT>) and the C<arg>	3532	C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMER>) and the C<arg>
3187	value passed to C<ev_once>. Note that it is possible to receive I<both>	3533	value passed to C<ev_once>. Note that it is possible to receive I<both>
3188	a timeout and an io event at the same time - you probably should give io	3534	a timeout and an io event at the same time - you probably should give io
3189	events precedence.	3535	events precedence.
3190		3536
3191	Example: wait up to ten seconds for data to appear on STDIN_FILENO.	3537	Example: wait up to ten seconds for data to appear on STDIN_FILENO.
3192		3538
3193	static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)	3539	static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)
3194	{	3540	{
3195	if (revents & EV_READ)	3541	if (revents & EV_READ)
3196	/* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;	3542	/* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;
3197	else if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT)	3543	else if (revents & EV_TIMER)
3198	/* doh, nothing entered */;	3544	/* doh, nothing entered */;
3199	}	3545	}
3200		3546
3201	ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);	3547	ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);
3202		3548
3203	=item ev_feed_fd_event (loop, int fd, int revents)	3549	=item ev_feed_fd_event (loop, int fd, int revents)
3204		3550
3205	Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected	3551	Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
3206	the given events it.	3552	the given events.
3207		3553
3208	=item ev_feed_signal_event (loop, int signum)	3554	=item ev_feed_signal_event (loop, int signum)
3209		3555
3210	Feed an event as if the given signal occurred (C<loop> must be the default	3556	Feed an event as if the given signal occurred. See also C<ev_feed_signal>,
3211	loop!).	3557	which is async-safe.
3212		3558
3213	=back	3559	=back
		3560
		3561
		3562	=head1 COMMON OR USEFUL IDIOMS (OR BOTH)
		3563
		3564	This section explains some common idioms that are not immediately
		3565	obvious. Note that examples are sprinkled over the whole manual, and this
		3566	section only contains stuff that wouldn't fit anywhere else.
		3567
		3568	=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER
		3569
		3570	Each watcher has, by default, a C<void *data> member that you can read
		3571	or modify at any time: libev will completely ignore it. This can be used
		3572	to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
		3573	don't want to allocate memory separately and store a pointer to it in that
		3574	data member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own
		3575	data:
		3576
		3577	struct my_io
		3578	{
		3579	ev_io io;
		3580	int otherfd;
		3581	void *somedata;
		3582	struct whatever *mostinteresting;
		3583	};
		3584
		3585	...
		3586	struct my_io w;
		3587	ev_io_init (&w.io, my_cb, fd, EV_READ);
		3588
		3589	And since your callback will be called with a pointer to the watcher, you
		3590	can cast it back to your own type:
		3591
		3592	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w_, int revents)
		3593	{
		3594	struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
		3595	...
		3596	}
		3597
		3598	More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback
		3599	function type instead have been omitted.
		3600
		3601	=head2 BUILDING YOUR OWN COMPOSITE WATCHERS
		3602
		3603	Another common scenario is to use some data structure with multiple
		3604	embedded watchers, in effect creating your own watcher that combines
		3605	multiple libev event sources into one "super-watcher":
		3606
		3607	struct my_biggy
		3608	{
		3609	int some_data;
		3610	ev_timer t1;
		3611	ev_timer t2;
		3612	}
		3613
		3614	In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more
		3615	complicated: Either you store the address of your C<my_biggy> struct in
		3616	the C<data> member of the watcher (for woozies or C++ coders), or you need
		3617	to use some pointer arithmetic using C<offsetof> inside your watchers (for
		3618	real programmers):
		3619
		3620	#include <stddef.h>
		3621
		3622	static void
		3623	t1_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
		3624	{
		3625	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *)
		3626	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
		3627	}
		3628
		3629	static void
		3630	t2_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
		3631	{
		3632	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *)
		3633	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
		3634	}
		3635
		3636	=head2 AVOIDING FINISHING BEFORE RETURNING
		3637
		3638	Often you have structures like this in event-based programs:
		3639
		3640	callback ()
		3641	{
		3642	free (request);
		3643	}
		3644
		3645	request = start_new_request (..., callback);
		3646
		3647	The intent is to start some "lengthy" operation. The C<request> could be
		3648	used to cancel the operation, or do other things with it.
		3649
		3650	It's not uncommon to have code paths in C<start_new_request> that
		3651	immediately invoke the callback, for example, to report errors. Or you add
		3652	some caching layer that finds that it can skip the lengthy aspects of the
		3653	operation and simply invoke the callback with the result.
		3654
		3655	The problem here is that this will happen I<before> C<start_new_request>
		3656	has returned, so C<request> is not set.
		3657
		3658	Even if you pass the request by some safer means to the callback, you
		3659	might want to do something to the request after starting it, such as
		3660	canceling it, which probably isn't working so well when the callback has
		3661	already been invoked.
		3662
		3663	A common way around all these issues is to make sure that
		3664	C<start_new_request> I<always> returns before the callback is invoked. If
		3665	C<start_new_request> immediately knows the result, it can artificially
		3666	delay invoking the callback by using a C<prepare> or C<idle> watcher for
		3667	example, or more sneakily, by reusing an existing (stopped) watcher and
		3668	pushing it into the pending queue:
		3669
		3670	ev_set_cb (watcher, callback);
		3671	ev_feed_event (EV_A_ watcher, 0);
		3672
		3673	This way, C<start_new_request> can safely return before the callback is
		3674	invoked, while not delaying callback invocation too much.
		3675
		3676	=head2 MODEL/NESTED EVENT LOOP INVOCATIONS AND EXIT CONDITIONS
		3677
		3678	Often (especially in GUI toolkits) there are places where you have
		3679	I<modal> interaction, which is most easily implemented by recursively
		3680	invoking C<ev_run>.
		3681
		3682	This brings the problem of exiting - a callback might want to finish the
		3683	main C<ev_run> call, but not the nested one (e.g. user clicked "Quit", but
		3684	a modal "Are you sure?" dialog is still waiting), or just the nested one
		3685	and not the main one (e.g. user clocked "Ok" in a modal dialog), or some
		3686	other combination: In these cases, a simple C<ev_break> will not work.
		3687
		3688	The solution is to maintain "break this loop" variable for each C<ev_run>
		3689	invocation, and use a loop around C<ev_run> until the condition is
		3690	triggered, using C<EVRUN_ONCE>:
		3691
		3692	// main loop
		3693	int exit_main_loop = 0;
		3694
		3695	while (!exit_main_loop)
		3696	ev_run (EV_DEFAULT_ EVRUN_ONCE);
		3697
		3698	// in a modal watcher
		3699	int exit_nested_loop = 0;
		3700
		3701	while (!exit_nested_loop)
		3702	ev_run (EV_A_ EVRUN_ONCE);
		3703
		3704	To exit from any of these loops, just set the corresponding exit variable:
		3705
		3706	// exit modal loop
		3707	exit_nested_loop = 1;
		3708
		3709	// exit main program, after modal loop is finished
		3710	exit_main_loop = 1;
		3711
		3712	// exit both
		3713	exit_main_loop = exit_nested_loop = 1;
		3714
		3715	=head2 THREAD LOCKING EXAMPLE
		3716
		3717	Here is a fictitious example of how to run an event loop in a different
		3718	thread from where callbacks are being invoked and watchers are
		3719	created/added/removed.
		3720
		3721	For a real-world example, see the C<EV::Loop::Async> perl module,
		3722	which uses exactly this technique (which is suited for many high-level
		3723	languages).
		3724
		3725	The example uses a pthread mutex to protect the loop data, a condition
		3726	variable to wait for callback invocations, an async watcher to notify the
		3727	event loop thread and an unspecified mechanism to wake up the main thread.
		3728
		3729	First, you need to associate some data with the event loop:
		3730
		3731	typedef struct {
		3732	mutex_t lock; /* global loop lock */
		3733	ev_async async_w;
		3734	thread_t tid;
		3735	cond_t invoke_cv;
		3736	} userdata;
		3737
		3738	void prepare_loop (EV_P)
		3739	{
		3740	// for simplicity, we use a static userdata struct.
		3741	static userdata u;
		3742
		3743	ev_async_init (&u->async_w, async_cb);
		3744	ev_async_start (EV_A_ &u->async_w);
		3745
		3746	pthread_mutex_init (&u->lock, 0);
		3747	pthread_cond_init (&u->invoke_cv, 0);
		3748
		3749	// now associate this with the loop
		3750	ev_set_userdata (EV_A_ u);
		3751	ev_set_invoke_pending_cb (EV_A_ l_invoke);
		3752	ev_set_loop_release_cb (EV_A_ l_release, l_acquire);
		3753
		3754	// then create the thread running ev_run
		3755	pthread_create (&u->tid, 0, l_run, EV_A);
		3756	}
		3757
		3758	The callback for the C<ev_async> watcher does nothing: the watcher is used
		3759	solely to wake up the event loop so it takes notice of any new watchers
		3760	that might have been added:
		3761
		3762	static void
		3763	async_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
		3764	{
		3765	// just used for the side effects
		3766	}
		3767
		3768	The C<l_release> and C<l_acquire> callbacks simply unlock/lock the mutex
		3769	protecting the loop data, respectively.
		3770
		3771	static void
		3772	l_release (EV_P)
		3773	{
		3774	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
		3775	pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
		3776	}
		3777
		3778	static void
		3779	l_acquire (EV_P)
		3780	{
		3781	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
		3782	pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
		3783	}
		3784
		3785	The event loop thread first acquires the mutex, and then jumps straight
		3786	into C<ev_run>:
		3787
		3788	void *
		3789	l_run (void *thr_arg)
		3790	{
		3791	struct ev_loop *loop = (struct ev_loop *)thr_arg;
		3792
		3793	l_acquire (EV_A);
		3794	pthread_setcanceltype (PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS, 0);
		3795	ev_run (EV_A_ 0);
		3796	l_release (EV_A);
		3797
		3798	return 0;
		3799	}
		3800
		3801	Instead of invoking all pending watchers, the C<l_invoke> callback will
		3802	signal the main thread via some unspecified mechanism (signals? pipe
		3803	writes? C<Async::Interrupt>?) and then waits until all pending watchers
		3804	have been called (in a while loop because a) spurious wakeups are possible
		3805	and b) skipping inter-thread-communication when there are no pending
		3806	watchers is very beneficial):
		3807
		3808	static void
		3809	l_invoke (EV_P)
		3810	{
		3811	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
		3812
		3813	while (ev_pending_count (EV_A))
		3814	{
		3815	wake_up_other_thread_in_some_magic_or_not_so_magic_way ();
		3816	pthread_cond_wait (&u->invoke_cv, &u->lock);
		3817	}
		3818	}
		3819
		3820	Now, whenever the main thread gets told to invoke pending watchers, it
		3821	will grab the lock, call C<ev_invoke_pending> and then signal the loop
		3822	thread to continue:
		3823
		3824	static void
		3825	real_invoke_pending (EV_P)
		3826	{
		3827	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
		3828
		3829	pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
		3830	ev_invoke_pending (EV_A);
		3831	pthread_cond_signal (&u->invoke_cv);
		3832	pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
		3833	}
		3834
		3835	Whenever you want to start/stop a watcher or do other modifications to an
		3836	event loop, you will now have to lock:
		3837
		3838	ev_timer timeout_watcher;
		3839	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
		3840
		3841	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
		3842
		3843	pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
		3844	ev_timer_start (EV_A_ &timeout_watcher);
		3845	ev_async_send (EV_A_ &u->async_w);
		3846	pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
		3847
		3848	Note that sending the C<ev_async> watcher is required because otherwise
		3849	an event loop currently blocking in the kernel will have no knowledge
		3850	about the newly added timer. By waking up the loop it will pick up any new
		3851	watchers in the next event loop iteration.
		3852
		3853	=head2 THREADS, COROUTINES, CONTINUATIONS, QUEUES... INSTEAD OF CALLBACKS
		3854
		3855	While the overhead of a callback that e.g. schedules a thread is small, it
		3856	is still an overhead. If you embed libev, and your main usage is with some
		3857	kind of threads or coroutines, you might want to customise libev so that
		3858	doesn't need callbacks anymore.
		3859
		3860	Imagine you have coroutines that you can switch to using a function
		3861	C<switch_to (coro)>, that libev runs in a coroutine called C<libev_coro>
		3862	and that due to some magic, the currently active coroutine is stored in a
		3863	global called C<current_coro>. Then you can build your own "wait for libev
		3864	event" primitive by changing C<EV_CB_DECLARE> and C<EV_CB_INVOKE> (note
		3865	the differing C<;> conventions):
		3866
		3867	#define EV_CB_DECLARE(type) struct my_coro *cb;
		3868	#define EV_CB_INVOKE(watcher) switch_to ((watcher)->cb)
		3869
		3870	That means instead of having a C callback function, you store the
		3871	coroutine to switch to in each watcher, and instead of having libev call
		3872	your callback, you instead have it switch to that coroutine.
		3873
		3874	A coroutine might now wait for an event with a function called
		3875	C<wait_for_event>. (the watcher needs to be started, as always, but it doesn't
		3876	matter when, or whether the watcher is active or not when this function is
		3877	called):
		3878
		3879	void
		3880	wait_for_event (ev_watcher *w)
		3881	{
		3882	ev_set_cb (w, current_coro);
		3883	switch_to (libev_coro);
		3884	}
		3885
		3886	That basically suspends the coroutine inside C<wait_for_event> and
		3887	continues the libev coroutine, which, when appropriate, switches back to
		3888	this or any other coroutine.
		3889
		3890	You can do similar tricks if you have, say, threads with an event queue -
		3891	instead of storing a coroutine, you store the queue object and instead of
		3892	switching to a coroutine, you push the watcher onto the queue and notify
		3893	any waiters.
		3894
		3895	To embed libev, see L</EMBEDDING>, but in short, it's easiest to create two
		3896	files, F<my_ev.h> and F<my_ev.c> that include the respective libev files:
		3897
		3898	// my_ev.h
		3899	#define EV_CB_DECLARE(type) struct my_coro *cb;
		3900	#define EV_CB_INVOKE(watcher) switch_to ((watcher)->cb);
		3901	#include "../libev/ev.h"
		3902
		3903	// my_ev.c
		3904	#define EV_H "my_ev.h"
		3905	#include "../libev/ev.c"
		3906
		3907	And then use F<my_ev.h> when you would normally use F<ev.h>, and compile
		3908	F<my_ev.c> into your project. When properly specifying include paths, you
		3909	can even use F<ev.h> as header file name directly.
3214		3910
3215		3911
3216	=head1 LIBEVENT EMULATION	3912	=head1 LIBEVENT EMULATION
3217		3913
3218	Libev offers a compatibility emulation layer for libevent. It cannot	3914	Libev offers a compatibility emulation layer for libevent. It cannot
3219	emulate the internals of libevent, so here are some usage hints:	3915	emulate the internals of libevent, so here are some usage hints:
3220		3916
3221	=over 4	3917	=over 4
		3918
		3919	=item * Only the libevent-1.4.1-beta API is being emulated.
		3920
		3921	This was the newest libevent version available when libev was implemented,
		3922	and is still mostly unchanged in 2010.
3222		3923
3223	=item * Use it by including <event.h>, as usual.	3924	=item * Use it by including <event.h>, as usual.
3224		3925
3225	=item * The following members are fully supported: ev_base, ev_callback,	3926	=item * The following members are fully supported: ev_base, ev_callback,
3226	ev_arg, ev_fd, ev_res, ev_events.	3927	ev_arg, ev_fd, ev_res, ev_events.
…		…
3232	=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities	3933	=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities
3233	will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there	3934	will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there
3234	is an ev_pri field.	3935	is an ev_pri field.
3235		3936
3236	=item * In libevent, the last base created gets the signals, in libev, the	3937	=item * In libevent, the last base created gets the signals, in libev, the
3237	first base created (== the default loop) gets the signals.	3938	base that registered the signal gets the signals.
3238		3939
3239	=item * Other members are not supported.	3940	=item * Other members are not supported.
3240		3941
3241	=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need	3942	=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
3242	to use the libev header file and library.	3943	to use the libev header file and library.
3243		3944
3244	=back	3945	=back
3245		3946
3246	=head1 C++ SUPPORT	3947	=head1 C++ SUPPORT
		3948
		3949	=head2 C API
		3950
		3951	The normal C API should work fine when used from C++: both ev.h and the
		3952	libev sources can be compiled as C++. Therefore, code that uses the C API
		3953	will work fine.
		3954
		3955	Proper exception specifications might have to be added to callbacks passed
		3956	to libev: exceptions may be thrown only from watcher callbacks, all
		3957	other callbacks (allocator, syserr, loop acquire/release and periodic
		3958	reschedule callbacks) must not throw exceptions, and might need a C<throw
		3959	()> specification. If you have code that needs to be compiled as both C
		3960	and C++ you can use the C<EV_THROW> macro for this:
		3961
		3962	static void
		3963	fatal_error (const char *msg) EV_THROW
		3964	{
		3965	perror (msg);
		3966	abort ();
		3967	}
		3968
		3969	...
		3970	ev_set_syserr_cb (fatal_error);
		3971
		3972	The only API functions that can currently throw exceptions are C<ev_run>,
		3973	C<ev_invoke>, C<ev_invoke_pending> and C<ev_loop_destroy> (the latter
		3974	because it runs cleanup watchers).
		3975
		3976	Throwing exceptions in watcher callbacks is only supported if libev itself
		3977	is compiled with a C++ compiler or your C and C++ environments allow
		3978	throwing exceptions through C libraries (most do).
		3979
		3980	=head2 C++ API
3247		3981
3248	Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow	3982	Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow
3249	you to use some convenience methods to start/stop watchers and also change	3983	you to use some convenience methods to start/stop watchers and also change
3250	the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.	3984	the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.
3251		3985
…		…
3261	Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the C++	3995	Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the C++
3262	classes add (compared to plain C-style watchers) is the event loop pointer	3996	classes add (compared to plain C-style watchers) is the event loop pointer
3263	that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if	3997	that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if
3264	you disable C<EV_MULTIPLICITY> when embedding libev).	3998	you disable C<EV_MULTIPLICITY> when embedding libev).
3265		3999
3266	Currently, functions, and static and non-static member functions can be	4000	Currently, functions, static and non-static member functions and classes
3267	used as callbacks. Other types should be easy to add as long as they only	4001	with C<operator ()> can be used as callbacks. Other types should be easy
3268	need one additional pointer for context. If you need support for other	4002	to add as long as they only need one additional pointer for context. If
3269	types of functors please contact the author (preferably after implementing	4003	you need support for other types of functors please contact the author
3270	it).	4004	(preferably after implementing it).
		4005
		4006	For all this to work, your C++ compiler either has to use the same calling
		4007	conventions as your C compiler (for static member functions), or you have
		4008	to embed libev and compile libev itself as C++.
3271		4009
3272	Here is a list of things available in the C<ev> namespace:	4010	Here is a list of things available in the C<ev> namespace:
3273		4011
3274	=over 4	4012	=over 4
3275		4013
…		…
3285	=item C<ev::io>, C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic>, C<ev::idle>, C<ev::sig> etc.	4023	=item C<ev::io>, C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic>, C<ev::idle>, C<ev::sig> etc.
3286		4024
3287	For each C<ev_TYPE> watcher in F<ev.h> there is a corresponding class of	4025	For each C<ev_TYPE> watcher in F<ev.h> there is a corresponding class of
3288	the same name in the C<ev> namespace, with the exception of C<ev_signal>	4026	the same name in the C<ev> namespace, with the exception of C<ev_signal>
3289	which is called C<ev::sig> to avoid clashes with the C<signal> macro	4027	which is called C<ev::sig> to avoid clashes with the C<signal> macro
3290	defines by many implementations.	4028	defined by many implementations.
3291		4029
3292	All of those classes have these methods:	4030	All of those classes have these methods:
3293		4031
3294	=over 4	4032	=over 4
3295		4033
…		…
3336	myclass obj;	4074	myclass obj;
3337	ev::io iow;	4075	ev::io iow;
3338	iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);	4076	iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);
3339		4077
3340	=item w->set (object *)	4078	=item w->set (object *)
3341
3342	This is an B<experimental> feature that might go away in a future version.
3343		4079
3344	This is a variation of a method callback - leaving out the method to call	4080	This is a variation of a method callback - leaving out the method to call
3345	will default the method to C<operator ()>, which makes it possible to use	4081	will default the method to C<operator ()>, which makes it possible to use
3346	functor objects without having to manually specify the C<operator ()> all	4082	functor objects without having to manually specify the C<operator ()> all
3347	the time. Incidentally, you can then also leave out the template argument	4083	the time. Incidentally, you can then also leave out the template argument
…		…
3387	Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only	4123	Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only
3388	do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).	4124	do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).
3389		4125
3390	=item w->set ([arguments])	4126	=item w->set ([arguments])
3391		4127
3392	Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set>, with the same arguments. Must be	4128	Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set> (except for C<ev::embed> watchers>),
		4129	with the same arguments. Either this method or a suitable start method
3393	called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets	4130	must be called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher
3394	automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this	4131	gets automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this
3395	method.	4132	method.
		4133
		4134	For C<ev::embed> watchers this method is called C<set_embed>, to avoid
		4135	clashing with the C<set (loop)> method.
3396		4136
3397	=item w->start ()	4137	=item w->start ()
3398		4138
3399	Starts the watcher. Note that there is no C<loop> argument, as the	4139	Starts the watcher. Note that there is no C<loop> argument, as the
3400	constructor already stores the event loop.	4140	constructor already stores the event loop.
3401		4141
		4142	=item w->start ([arguments])
		4143
		4144	Instead of calling C<set> and C<start> methods separately, it is often
		4145	convenient to wrap them in one call. Uses the same type of arguments as
		4146	the configure C<set> method of the watcher.
		4147
3402	=item w->stop ()	4148	=item w->stop ()
3403		4149
3404	Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.	4150	Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.
3405		4151
3406	=item w->again () (C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only)	4152	=item w->again () (C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only)
…		…
3418		4164
3419	=back	4165	=back
3420		4166
3421	=back	4167	=back
3422		4168
3423	Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in	4169	Example: Define a class with two I/O and idle watchers, start the I/O
3424	the constructor.	4170	watchers in the constructor.
3425		4171
3426	class myclass	4172	class myclass
3427	{	4173	{
3428	ev::io io ; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);	4174	ev::io io ; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);
		4175	ev::io io2 ; void io2_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);
3429	ev::idle idle; void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);	4176	ev::idle idle; void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);
3430		4177
3431	myclass (int fd)	4178	myclass (int fd)
3432	{	4179	{
3433	io .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb > (this);	4180	io .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb > (this);
		4181	io2 .set <myclass, &myclass::io2_cb > (this);
3434	idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);	4182	idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);
3435		4183
3436	io.start (fd, ev::READ);	4184	io.set (fd, ev::WRITE); // configure the watcher
		4185	io.start (); // start it whenever convenient
		4186
		4187	io2.start (fd, ev::READ); // set + start in one call
3437	}	4188	}
3438	};	4189	};
3439		4190
3440		4191
3441	=head1 OTHER LANGUAGE BINDINGS	4192	=head1 OTHER LANGUAGE BINDINGS
…		…
3480	L<http://hackage.haskell.org/cgi-bin/hackage-scripts/package/hlibev>.	4231	L<http://hackage.haskell.org/cgi-bin/hackage-scripts/package/hlibev>.
3481		4232
3482	=item D	4233	=item D
3483		4234
3484	Leandro Lucarella has written a D language binding (F<ev.d>) for libev, to	4235	Leandro Lucarella has written a D language binding (F<ev.d>) for libev, to
3485	be found at L<http://proj.llucax.com.ar/wiki/evd>.	4236	be found at L<http://www.llucax.com.ar/proj/ev.d/index.html>.
3486		4237
3487	=item Ocaml	4238	=item Ocaml
3488		4239
3489	Erkki Seppala has written Ocaml bindings for libev, to be found at	4240	Erkki Seppala has written Ocaml bindings for libev, to be found at
3490	L<http://modeemi.cs.tut.fi/~flux/software/ocaml-ev/>.	4241	L<http://modeemi.cs.tut.fi/~flux/software/ocaml-ev/>.
…		…
3493		4244
3494	Brian Maher has written a partial interface to libev for lua (at the	4245	Brian Maher has written a partial interface to libev for lua (at the
3495	time of this writing, only C<ev_io> and C<ev_timer>), to be found at	4246	time of this writing, only C<ev_io> and C<ev_timer>), to be found at
3496	L<http://github.com/brimworks/lua-ev>.	4247	L<http://github.com/brimworks/lua-ev>.
3497		4248
		4249	=item Javascript
		4250
		4251	Node.js (L<http://nodejs.org>) uses libev as the underlying event library.
		4252
		4253	=item Others
		4254
		4255	There are others, and I stopped counting.
		4256
3498	=back	4257	=back
3499		4258
3500		4259
3501	=head1 MACRO MAGIC	4260	=head1 MACRO MAGIC
3502		4261
…		…
3515	loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,	4274	loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,
3516	C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:	4275	C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:
3517		4276
3518	ev_unref (EV_A);	4277	ev_unref (EV_A);
3519	ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);	4278	ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);
3520	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);	4279	ev_run (EV_A_ 0);
3521		4280
3522	It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,	4281	It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,
3523	which is often provided by the following macro.	4282	which is often provided by the following macro.
3524		4283
3525	=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>	4284	=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>
…		…
3538	suitable for use with C<EV_A>.	4297	suitable for use with C<EV_A>.
3539		4298
3540	=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>	4299	=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>
3541		4300
3542	Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default	4301	Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
3543	loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").	4302	loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default"). The default loop
		4303	will be initialised if it isn't already initialised.
		4304
		4305	For non-multiplicity builds, these macros do nothing, so you always have
		4306	to initialise the loop somewhere.
3544		4307
3545	=item C<EV_DEFAULT_UC>, C<EV_DEFAULT_UC_>	4308	=item C<EV_DEFAULT_UC>, C<EV_DEFAULT_UC_>
3546		4309
3547	Usage identical to C<EV_DEFAULT> and C<EV_DEFAULT_>, but requires that the	4310	Usage identical to C<EV_DEFAULT> and C<EV_DEFAULT_>, but requires that the
3548	default loop has been initialised (C<UC> == unchecked). Their behaviour	4311	default loop has been initialised (C<UC> == unchecked). Their behaviour
…		…
3565	}	4328	}
3566		4329
3567	ev_check check;	4330	ev_check check;
3568	ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);	4331	ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);
3569	ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);	4332	ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);
3570	ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);	4333	ev_run (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
3571		4334
3572	=head1 EMBEDDING	4335	=head1 EMBEDDING
3573		4336
3574	Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host	4337	Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
3575	applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra	4338	applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
…		…
3660	define before including (or compiling) any of its files. The default in	4423	define before including (or compiling) any of its files. The default in
3661	the absence of autoconf is documented for every option.	4424	the absence of autoconf is documented for every option.
3662		4425
3663	Symbols marked with "(h)" do not change the ABI, and can have different	4426	Symbols marked with "(h)" do not change the ABI, and can have different
3664	values when compiling libev vs. including F<ev.h>, so it is permissible	4427	values when compiling libev vs. including F<ev.h>, so it is permissible
3665	to redefine them before including F<ev.h> without breakign compatibility	4428	to redefine them before including F<ev.h> without breaking compatibility
3666	to a compiled library. All other symbols change the ABI, which means all	4429	to a compiled library. All other symbols change the ABI, which means all
3667	users of libev and the libev code itself must be compiled with compatible	4430	users of libev and the libev code itself must be compiled with compatible
3668	settings.	4431	settings.
3669		4432
3670	=over 4	4433	=over 4
		4434
		4435	=item EV_COMPAT3 (h)
		4436
		4437	Backwards compatibility is a major concern for libev. This is why this
		4438	release of libev comes with wrappers for the functions and symbols that
		4439	have been renamed between libev version 3 and 4.
		4440
		4441	You can disable these wrappers (to test compatibility with future
		4442	versions) by defining C<EV_COMPAT3> to C<0> when compiling your
		4443	sources. This has the additional advantage that you can drop the C<struct>
		4444	from C<struct ev_loop> declarations, as libev will provide an C<ev_loop>
		4445	typedef in that case.
		4446
		4447	In some future version, the default for C<EV_COMPAT3> will become C<0>,
		4448	and in some even more future version the compatibility code will be
		4449	removed completely.
3671		4450
3672	=item EV_STANDALONE (h)	4451	=item EV_STANDALONE (h)
3673		4452
3674	Must always be C<1> if you do not use autoconf configuration, which	4453	Must always be C<1> if you do not use autoconf configuration, which
3675	keeps libev from including F<config.h>, and it also defines dummy	4454	keeps libev from including F<config.h>, and it also defines dummy
…		…
3677	supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in	4456	supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in
3678	F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.	4457	F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.
3679		4458
3680	In standalone mode, libev will still try to automatically deduce the	4459	In standalone mode, libev will still try to automatically deduce the
3681	configuration, but has to be more conservative.	4460	configuration, but has to be more conservative.
		4461
		4462	=item EV_USE_FLOOR
		4463
		4464	If defined to be C<1>, libev will use the C<floor ()> function for its
		4465	periodic reschedule calculations, otherwise libev will fall back on a
		4466	portable (slower) implementation. If you enable this, you usually have to
		4467	link against libm or something equivalent. Enabling this when the C<floor>
		4468	function is not available will fail, so the safe default is to not enable
		4469	this.
3682		4470
3683	=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC	4471	=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC
3684		4472
3685	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the	4473	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
3686	monotonic clock option at both compile time and runtime. Otherwise no	4474	monotonic clock option at both compile time and runtime. Otherwise no
…		…
3771		4559
3772	If programs implement their own fd to handle mapping on win32, then this	4560	If programs implement their own fd to handle mapping on win32, then this
3773	macro can be used to override the C<close> function, useful to unregister	4561	macro can be used to override the C<close> function, useful to unregister
3774	file descriptors again. Note that the replacement function has to close	4562	file descriptors again. Note that the replacement function has to close
3775	the underlying OS handle.	4563	the underlying OS handle.
		4564
		4565	=item EV_USE_WSASOCKET
		4566
		4567	If defined to be C<1>, libev will use C<WSASocket> to create its internal
		4568	communication socket, which works better in some environments. Otherwise,
		4569	the normal C<socket> function will be used, which works better in other
		4570	environments.
3776		4571
3777	=item EV_USE_POLL	4572	=item EV_USE_POLL
3778		4573
3779	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)	4574	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)
3780	backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It	4575	backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It
…		…
3816	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify	4611	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
3817	interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will	4612	interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will
3818	be detected at runtime. If undefined, it will be enabled if the headers	4613	be detected at runtime. If undefined, it will be enabled if the headers
3819	indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc 2.4 or newer, otherwise disabled.	4614	indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc 2.4 or newer, otherwise disabled.
3820		4615
		4616	=item EV_NO_SMP
		4617
		4618	If defined to be C<1>, libev will assume that memory is always coherent
		4619	between threads, that is, threads can be used, but threads never run on
		4620	different cpus (or different cpu cores). This reduces dependencies
		4621	and makes libev faster.
		4622
		4623	=item EV_NO_THREADS
		4624
		4625	If defined to be C<1>, libev will assume that it will never be called from
		4626	different threads (that includes signal handlers), which is a stronger
		4627	assumption than C<EV_NO_SMP>, above. This reduces dependencies and makes
		4628	libev faster.
		4629
3821	=item EV_ATOMIC_T	4630	=item EV_ATOMIC_T
3822		4631
3823	Libev requires an integer type (suitable for storing C<0> or C<1>) whose	4632	Libev requires an integer type (suitable for storing C<0> or C<1>) whose
3824	access is atomic with respect to other threads or signal contexts. No such	4633	access is atomic with respect to other threads or signal contexts. No
3825	type is easily found in the C language, so you can provide your own type	4634	such type is easily found in the C language, so you can provide your own
3826	that you know is safe for your purposes. It is used both for signal handler "locking"	4635	type that you know is safe for your purposes. It is used both for signal
3827	as well as for signal and thread safety in C<ev_async> watchers.	4636	handler "locking" as well as for signal and thread safety in C<ev_async>
		4637	watchers.
3828		4638
3829	In the absence of this define, libev will use C<sig_atomic_t volatile>	4639	In the absence of this define, libev will use C<sig_atomic_t volatile>
3830	(from F<signal.h>), which is usually good enough on most platforms.	4640	(from F<signal.h>), which is usually good enough on most platforms.
3831		4641
3832	=item EV_H (h)	4642	=item EV_H (h)
…		…
3859	will have the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument, and you can create	4669	will have the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument, and you can create
3860	additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support	4670	additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support
3861	for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer	4671	for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer
3862	argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.	4672	argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.
3863		4673
		4674	Note that C<EV_DEFAULT> and C<EV_DEFAULT_> will no longer provide a
		4675	default loop when multiplicity is switched off - you always have to
		4676	initialise the loop manually in this case.
		4677
3864	=item EV_MINPRI	4678	=item EV_MINPRI
3865		4679
3866	=item EV_MAXPRI	4680	=item EV_MAXPRI
3867		4681
3868	The range of allowed priorities. C<EV_MINPRI> must be smaller or equal to	4682	The range of allowed priorities. C<EV_MINPRI> must be smaller or equal to
…		…
3882	EV_PREPARE_ENABLE, EV_CHECK_ENABLE, EV_FORK_ENABLE, EV_SIGNAL_ENABLE,	4696	EV_PREPARE_ENABLE, EV_CHECK_ENABLE, EV_FORK_ENABLE, EV_SIGNAL_ENABLE,
3883	EV_ASYNC_ENABLE, EV_CHILD_ENABLE.	4697	EV_ASYNC_ENABLE, EV_CHILD_ENABLE.
3884		4698
3885	If undefined or defined to be C<1> (and the platform supports it), then	4699	If undefined or defined to be C<1> (and the platform supports it), then
3886	the respective watcher type is supported. If defined to be C<0>, then it	4700	the respective watcher type is supported. If defined to be C<0>, then it
3887	is not. Disabling watcher types mainly saves codesize.	4701	is not. Disabling watcher types mainly saves code size.
3888		4702
3889	=item EV_FEATURES	4703	=item EV_FEATURES
3890		4704
3891	If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some	4705	If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some
3892	speed (but with the full API), you can define this symbol to request	4706	speed (but with the full API), you can define this symbol to request
3893	certain subsets of functionality. The default is to enable all features	4707	certain subsets of functionality. The default is to enable all features
3894	that can be enabled on the platform.	4708	that can be enabled on the platform.
3895
3896	Note that using autoconf will usually override most of the features, so
3897	using this symbol makes sense mostly when embedding libev.
3898		4709
3899	A typical way to use this symbol is to define it to C<0> (or to a bitset	4710	A typical way to use this symbol is to define it to C<0> (or to a bitset
3900	with some broad features you want) and then selectively re-enable	4711	with some broad features you want) and then selectively re-enable
3901	additional parts you want, for example if you want everything minimal,	4712	additional parts you want, for example if you want everything minimal,
3902	but multiple event loop support, async and child watchers and the poll	4713	but multiple event loop support, async and child watchers and the poll
…		…
3907	#define EV_USE_POLL 1	4718	#define EV_USE_POLL 1
3908	#define EV_CHILD_ENABLE 1	4719	#define EV_CHILD_ENABLE 1
3909	#define EV_ASYNC_ENABLE 1	4720	#define EV_ASYNC_ENABLE 1
3910		4721
3911	The actual value is a bitset, it can be a combination of the following	4722	The actual value is a bitset, it can be a combination of the following
3912	values:	4723	values (by default, all of these are enabled):
3913		4724
3914	=over 4	4725	=over 4
3915		4726
3916	=item C<1> - faster/larger code	4727	=item C<1> - faster/larger code
3917		4728
3918	Use larger code to speed up some operations.	4729	Use larger code to speed up some operations.
3919		4730
3920	Currently this is used to override some inlining decisions (enlarging the roughly	4731	Currently this is used to override some inlining decisions (enlarging the
3921	30% code size on amd64.	4732	code size by roughly 30% on amd64).
3922		4733
3923	When optimising for size, use of compiler flags such as C<-Os> with	4734	When optimising for size, use of compiler flags such as C<-Os> with
3924	gcc recommended, as well as C<-DNDEBUG>, as libev contains a number of	4735	gcc is recommended, as well as C<-DNDEBUG>, as libev contains a number of
3925	assertions.	4736	assertions.
3926		4737
		4738	The default is off when C<__OPTIMIZE_SIZE__> is defined by your compiler
		4739	(e.g. gcc with C<-Os>).
		4740
3927	=item C<2> - faster/larger data structures	4741	=item C<2> - faster/larger data structures
3928		4742
3929	Replaces the small 2-heap for timer management by a faster 4-heap, larger	4743	Replaces the small 2-heap for timer management by a faster 4-heap, larger
3930	hash table sizes and so on. This will usually further increase codesize	4744	hash table sizes and so on. This will usually further increase code size
3931	and can additionally have an effect on the size of data structures at	4745	and can additionally have an effect on the size of data structures at
3932	runtime.	4746	runtime.
3933		4747
		4748	The default is off when C<__OPTIMIZE_SIZE__> is defined by your compiler
		4749	(e.g. gcc with C<-Os>).
		4750
3934	=item C<4> - full API configuration	4751	=item C<4> - full API configuration
3935		4752
3936	This enables priorities (sets C<EV_MAXPRI>=2 and C<EV_MINPRI>=-2), and	4753	This enables priorities (sets C<EV_MAXPRI>=2 and C<EV_MINPRI>=-2), and
3937	enables multiplicity (C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>=1).	4754	enables multiplicity (C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>=1).
3938		4755
		4756	=item C<8> - full API
		4757
3939	It also enables a lot of the "lesser used" core API functions. See C<ev.h>	4758	This enables a lot of the "lesser used" API functions. See C<ev.h> for
3940	for details on which parts of the API are still available without this	4759	details on which parts of the API are still available without this
3941	feature, and do not complain if this subset changes over time.	4760	feature, and do not complain if this subset changes over time.
3942		4761
3943	=item C<8> - enable all optional watcher types	4762	=item C<16> - enable all optional watcher types
3944		4763
3945	Enables all optional watcher types. If you want to selectively enable	4764	Enables all optional watcher types. If you want to selectively enable
3946	only some watcher types other than I/O and timers (e.g. prepare,	4765	only some watcher types other than I/O and timers (e.g. prepare,
3947	embed, async, child...) you can enable them manually by defining	4766	embed, async, child...) you can enable them manually by defining
3948	C<EV_watchertype_ENABLE> to C<1> instead.	4767	C<EV_watchertype_ENABLE> to C<1> instead.
3949		4768
3950	=item C<16> - enable all backends	4769	=item C<32> - enable all backends
3951		4770
3952	This enables all backends - without this feature, you need to enable at	4771	This enables all backends - without this feature, you need to enable at
3953	least one backend manually (C<EV_USE_SELECT> is a good choice).	4772	least one backend manually (C<EV_USE_SELECT> is a good choice).
3954		4773
3955	=item C<32> - enable OS-specific "helper" APIs	4774	=item C<64> - enable OS-specific "helper" APIs
3956		4775
3957	Enable inotify, eventfd, signalfd and similar OS-specific helper APIs by	4776	Enable inotify, eventfd, signalfd and similar OS-specific helper APIs by
3958	default.	4777	default.
3959		4778
3960	=back	4779	=back
3961		4780
3962	Compiling with C<gcc -Os -DEV_STANDALONE -DEV_USE_EPOLL=1 -DEV_FEATURES=0>	4781	Compiling with C<gcc -Os -DEV_STANDALONE -DEV_USE_EPOLL=1 -DEV_FEATURES=0>
3963	reduces the compiled size of libev from 24.7Kb to 6.5Kb on my GNU/Linux	4782	reduces the compiled size of libev from 24.7Kb code/2.8Kb data to 6.5Kb
3964	amd64 system, while still giving you I/O watchers, timers and monotonic	4783	code/0.3Kb data on my GNU/Linux amd64 system, while still giving you I/O
3965	clock support.	4784	watchers, timers and monotonic clock support.
3966		4785
3967	With an intelligent-enough linker (gcc+binutils are intelligent enough	4786	With an intelligent-enough linker (gcc+binutils are intelligent enough
3968	when you use C<-Wl,--gc-sections -ffunction-sections>) functions unused by	4787	when you use C<-Wl,--gc-sections -ffunction-sections>) functions unused by
3969	your program might be left out as well - a binary starting a timer and an	4788	your program might be left out as well - a binary starting a timer and an
3970	I/O watcher then might come out at only 5Kb.	4789	I/O watcher then might come out at only 5Kb.
3971		4790
		4791	=item EV_API_STATIC
		4792
		4793	If this symbol is defined (by default it is not), then all identifiers
		4794	will have static linkage. This means that libev will not export any
		4795	identifiers, and you cannot link against libev anymore. This can be useful
		4796	when you embed libev, only want to use libev functions in a single file,
		4797	and do not want its identifiers to be visible.
		4798
		4799	To use this, define C<EV_API_STATIC> and include F<ev.c> in the file that
		4800	wants to use libev.
		4801
		4802	This option only works when libev is compiled with a C compiler, as C++
		4803	doesn't support the required declaration syntax.
		4804
3972	=item EV_AVOID_STDIO	4805	=item EV_AVOID_STDIO
3973		4806
3974	If this is set to C<1> at compiletime, then libev will avoid using stdio	4807	If this is set to C<1> at compiletime, then libev will avoid using stdio
3975	functions (printf, scanf, perror etc.). This will increase the codesize	4808	functions (printf, scanf, perror etc.). This will increase the code size
3976	somewhat, but if your program doesn't otherwise depend on stdio and your	4809	somewhat, but if your program doesn't otherwise depend on stdio and your
3977	libc allows it, this avoids linking in the stdio library which is quite	4810	libc allows it, this avoids linking in the stdio library which is quite
3978	big.	4811	big.
3979		4812
3980	Note that error messages might become less precise when this option is	4813	Note that error messages might become less precise when this option is
…		…
3984		4817
3985	The highest supported signal number, +1 (or, the number of	4818	The highest supported signal number, +1 (or, the number of
3986	signals): Normally, libev tries to deduce the maximum number of signals	4819	signals): Normally, libev tries to deduce the maximum number of signals
3987	automatically, but sometimes this fails, in which case it can be	4820	automatically, but sometimes this fails, in which case it can be
3988	specified. Also, using a lower number than detected (C<32> should be	4821	specified. Also, using a lower number than detected (C<32> should be
3989	good for about any system in existance) can save some memory, as libev	4822	good for about any system in existence) can save some memory, as libev
3990	statically allocates some 12-24 bytes per signal number.	4823	statically allocates some 12-24 bytes per signal number.
3991		4824
3992	=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE	4825	=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE
3993		4826
3994	C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by	4827	C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
…		…
4026	The default is C<1>, unless C<EV_FEATURES> overrides it, in which case it	4859	The default is C<1>, unless C<EV_FEATURES> overrides it, in which case it
4027	will be C<0>.	4860	will be C<0>.
4028		4861
4029	=item EV_VERIFY	4862	=item EV_VERIFY
4030		4863
4031	Controls how much internal verification (see C<ev_loop_verify ()>) will	4864	Controls how much internal verification (see C<ev_verify ()>) will
4032	be done: If set to C<0>, no internal verification code will be compiled	4865	be done: If set to C<0>, no internal verification code will be compiled
4033	in. If set to C<1>, then verification code will be compiled in, but not	4866	in. If set to C<1>, then verification code will be compiled in, but not
4034	called. If set to C<2>, then the internal verification code will be	4867	called. If set to C<2>, then the internal verification code will be
4035	called once per loop, which can slow down libev. If set to C<3>, then the	4868	called once per loop, which can slow down libev. If set to C<3>, then the
4036	verification code will be called very frequently, which will slow down	4869	verification code will be called very frequently, which will slow down
…		…
4040	will be C<0>.	4873	will be C<0>.
4041		4874
4042	=item EV_COMMON	4875	=item EV_COMMON
4043		4876
4044	By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining	4877	By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining
4045	this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of	4878	this macro to something else you can include more and other types of
4046	members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,	4879	members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
4047	though, and it must be identical each time.	4880	though, and it must be identical each time.
4048		4881
4049	For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:	4882	For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:
4050		4883
…		…
4103	file.	4936	file.
4104		4937
4105	The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file	4938	The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file
4106	that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:	4939	that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:
4107		4940
4108	#define EV_FEATURES 0	4941	#define EV_FEATURES 8
4109	#define EV_USE_SELECT 1	4942	#define EV_USE_SELECT 1
		4943	#define EV_PREPARE_ENABLE 1
		4944	#define EV_IDLE_ENABLE 1
		4945	#define EV_SIGNAL_ENABLE 1
		4946	#define EV_CHILD_ENABLE 1
		4947	#define EV_USE_STDEXCEPT 0
4110	#define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>	4948	#define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>
4111		4949
4112	#include "ev++.h"	4950	#include "ev++.h"
4113		4951
4114	And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:	4952	And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:
4115		4953
4116	#include "ev_cpp.h"	4954	#include "ev_cpp.h"
4117	#include "ev.c"	4955	#include "ev.c"
4118		4956
4119	=head1 INTERACTION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS OR LIBRARIES	4957	=head1 INTERACTION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS, LIBRARIES OR THE ENVIRONMENT
4120		4958
4121	=head2 THREADS AND COROUTINES	4959	=head2 THREADS AND COROUTINES
4122		4960
4123	=head3 THREADS	4961	=head3 THREADS
4124		4962
…		…
4175	default loop and triggering an C<ev_async> watcher from the default loop	5013	default loop and triggering an C<ev_async> watcher from the default loop
4176	watcher callback into the event loop interested in the signal.	5014	watcher callback into the event loop interested in the signal.
4177		5015
4178	=back	5016	=back
4179		5017
4180	=head4 THREAD LOCKING EXAMPLE	5018	See also L</THREAD LOCKING EXAMPLE>.
4181
4182	Here is a fictitious example of how to run an event loop in a different
4183	thread than where callbacks are being invoked and watchers are
4184	created/added/removed.
4185
4186	For a real-world example, see the C<EV::Loop::Async> perl module,
4187	which uses exactly this technique (which is suited for many high-level
4188	languages).
4189
4190	The example uses a pthread mutex to protect the loop data, a condition
4191	variable to wait for callback invocations, an async watcher to notify the
4192	event loop thread and an unspecified mechanism to wake up the main thread.
4193
4194	First, you need to associate some data with the event loop:
4195
4196	typedef struct {
4197	mutex_t lock; /* global loop lock */
4198	ev_async async_w;
4199	thread_t tid;
4200	cond_t invoke_cv;
4201	} userdata;
4202
4203	void prepare_loop (EV_P)
4204	{
4205	// for simplicity, we use a static userdata struct.
4206	static userdata u;
4207
4208	ev_async_init (&u->async_w, async_cb);
4209	ev_async_start (EV_A_ &u->async_w);
4210
4211	pthread_mutex_init (&u->lock, 0);
4212	pthread_cond_init (&u->invoke_cv, 0);
4213
4214	// now associate this with the loop
4215	ev_set_userdata (EV_A_ u);
4216	ev_set_invoke_pending_cb (EV_A_ l_invoke);
4217	ev_set_loop_release_cb (EV_A_ l_release, l_acquire);
4218
4219	// then create the thread running ev_loop
4220	pthread_create (&u->tid, 0, l_run, EV_A);
4221	}
4222
4223	The callback for the C<ev_async> watcher does nothing: the watcher is used
4224	solely to wake up the event loop so it takes notice of any new watchers
4225	that might have been added:
4226
4227	static void
4228	async_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
4229	{
4230	// just used for the side effects
4231	}
4232
4233	The C<l_release> and C<l_acquire> callbacks simply unlock/lock the mutex
4234	protecting the loop data, respectively.
4235
4236	static void
4237	l_release (EV_P)
4238	{
4239	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
4240	pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
4241	}
4242
4243	static void
4244	l_acquire (EV_P)
4245	{
4246	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
4247	pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
4248	}
4249
4250	The event loop thread first acquires the mutex, and then jumps straight
4251	into C<ev_loop>:
4252
4253	void *
4254	l_run (void *thr_arg)
4255	{
4256	struct ev_loop *loop = (struct ev_loop *)thr_arg;
4257
4258	l_acquire (EV_A);
4259	pthread_setcanceltype (PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS, 0);
4260	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
4261	l_release (EV_A);
4262
4263	return 0;
4264	}
4265
4266	Instead of invoking all pending watchers, the C<l_invoke> callback will
4267	signal the main thread via some unspecified mechanism (signals? pipe
4268	writes? C<Async::Interrupt>?) and then waits until all pending watchers
4269	have been called (in a while loop because a) spurious wakeups are possible
4270	and b) skipping inter-thread-communication when there are no pending
4271	watchers is very beneficial):
4272
4273	static void
4274	l_invoke (EV_P)
4275	{
4276	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
4277
4278	while (ev_pending_count (EV_A))
4279	{
4280	wake_up_other_thread_in_some_magic_or_not_so_magic_way ();
4281	pthread_cond_wait (&u->invoke_cv, &u->lock);
4282	}
4283	}
4284
4285	Now, whenever the main thread gets told to invoke pending watchers, it
4286	will grab the lock, call C<ev_invoke_pending> and then signal the loop
4287	thread to continue:
4288
4289	static void
4290	real_invoke_pending (EV_P)
4291	{
4292	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
4293
4294	pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
4295	ev_invoke_pending (EV_A);
4296	pthread_cond_signal (&u->invoke_cv);
4297	pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
4298	}
4299
4300	Whenever you want to start/stop a watcher or do other modifications to an
4301	event loop, you will now have to lock:
4302
4303	ev_timer timeout_watcher;
4304	userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
4305
4306	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
4307
4308	pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
4309	ev_timer_start (EV_A_ &timeout_watcher);
4310	ev_async_send (EV_A_ &u->async_w);
4311	pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
4312
4313	Note that sending the C<ev_async> watcher is required because otherwise
4314	an event loop currently blocking in the kernel will have no knowledge
4315	about the newly added timer. By waking up the loop it will pick up any new
4316	watchers in the next event loop iteration.
4317		5019
4318	=head3 COROUTINES	5020	=head3 COROUTINES
4319		5021
4320	Libev is very accommodating to coroutines ("cooperative threads"):	5022	Libev is very accommodating to coroutines ("cooperative threads"):
4321	libev fully supports nesting calls to its functions from different	5023	libev fully supports nesting calls to its functions from different
4322	coroutines (e.g. you can call C<ev_loop> on the same loop from two	5024	coroutines (e.g. you can call C<ev_run> on the same loop from two
4323	different coroutines, and switch freely between both coroutines running	5025	different coroutines, and switch freely between both coroutines running
4324	the loop, as long as you don't confuse yourself). The only exception is	5026	the loop, as long as you don't confuse yourself). The only exception is
4325	that you must not do this from C<ev_periodic> reschedule callbacks.	5027	that you must not do this from C<ev_periodic> reschedule callbacks.
4326		5028
4327	Care has been taken to ensure that libev does not keep local state inside	5029	Care has been taken to ensure that libev does not keep local state inside
4328	C<ev_loop>, and other calls do not usually allow for coroutine switches as	5030	C<ev_run>, and other calls do not usually allow for coroutine switches as
4329	they do not call any callbacks.	5031	they do not call any callbacks.
4330		5032
4331	=head2 COMPILER WARNINGS	5033	=head2 COMPILER WARNINGS
4332		5034
4333	Depending on your compiler and compiler settings, you might get no or a	5035	Depending on your compiler and compiler settings, you might get no or a
…		…
4344	maintainable.	5046	maintainable.
4345		5047
4346	And of course, some compiler warnings are just plain stupid, or simply	5048	And of course, some compiler warnings are just plain stupid, or simply
4347	wrong (because they don't actually warn about the condition their message	5049	wrong (because they don't actually warn about the condition their message
4348	seems to warn about). For example, certain older gcc versions had some	5050	seems to warn about). For example, certain older gcc versions had some
4349	warnings that resulted an extreme number of false positives. These have	5051	warnings that resulted in an extreme number of false positives. These have
4350	been fixed, but some people still insist on making code warn-free with	5052	been fixed, but some people still insist on making code warn-free with
4351	such buggy versions.	5053	such buggy versions.
4352		5054
4353	While libev is written to generate as few warnings as possible,	5055	While libev is written to generate as few warnings as possible,
4354	"warn-free" code is not a goal, and it is recommended not to build libev	5056	"warn-free" code is not a goal, and it is recommended not to build libev
…		…
4390	I suggest using suppression lists.	5092	I suggest using suppression lists.
4391		5093
4392		5094
4393	=head1 PORTABILITY NOTES	5095	=head1 PORTABILITY NOTES
4394		5096
		5097	=head2 GNU/LINUX 32 BIT LIMITATIONS
		5098
		5099	GNU/Linux is the only common platform that supports 64 bit file/large file
		5100	interfaces but I<disables> them by default.
		5101
		5102	That means that libev compiled in the default environment doesn't support
		5103	files larger than 2GiB or so, which mainly affects C<ev_stat> watchers.
		5104
		5105	Unfortunately, many programs try to work around this GNU/Linux issue
		5106	by enabling the large file API, which makes them incompatible with the
		5107	standard libev compiled for their system.
		5108
		5109	Likewise, libev cannot enable the large file API itself as this would
		5110	suddenly make it incompatible to the default compile time environment,
		5111	i.e. all programs not using special compile switches.
		5112
		5113	=head2 OS/X AND DARWIN BUGS
		5114
		5115	The whole thing is a bug if you ask me - basically any system interface
		5116	you touch is broken, whether it is locales, poll, kqueue or even the
		5117	OpenGL drivers.
		5118
		5119	=head3 C<kqueue> is buggy
		5120
		5121	The kqueue syscall is broken in all known versions - most versions support
		5122	only sockets, many support pipes.
		5123
		5124	Libev tries to work around this by not using C<kqueue> by default on this
		5125	rotten platform, but of course you can still ask for it when creating a
		5126	loop - embedding a socket-only kqueue loop into a select-based one is
		5127	probably going to work well.
		5128
		5129	=head3 C<poll> is buggy
		5130
		5131	Instead of fixing C<kqueue>, Apple replaced their (working) C<poll>
		5132	implementation by something calling C<kqueue> internally around the 10.5.6
		5133	release, so now C<kqueue> I<and> C<poll> are broken.
		5134
		5135	Libev tries to work around this by not using C<poll> by default on
		5136	this rotten platform, but of course you can still ask for it when creating
		5137	a loop.
		5138
		5139	=head3 C<select> is buggy
		5140
		5141	All that's left is C<select>, and of course Apple found a way to fuck this
		5142	one up as well: On OS/X, C<select> actively limits the number of file
		5143	descriptors you can pass in to 1024 - your program suddenly crashes when
		5144	you use more.
		5145
		5146	There is an undocumented "workaround" for this - defining
		5147	C<_DARWIN_UNLIMITED_SELECT>, which libev tries to use, so select I<should>
		5148	work on OS/X.
		5149
		5150	=head2 SOLARIS PROBLEMS AND WORKAROUNDS
		5151
		5152	=head3 C<errno> reentrancy
		5153
		5154	The default compile environment on Solaris is unfortunately so
		5155	thread-unsafe that you can't even use components/libraries compiled
		5156	without C<-D_REENTRANT> in a threaded program, which, of course, isn't
		5157	defined by default. A valid, if stupid, implementation choice.
		5158
		5159	If you want to use libev in threaded environments you have to make sure
		5160	it's compiled with C<_REENTRANT> defined.
		5161
		5162	=head3 Event port backend
		5163
		5164	The scalable event interface for Solaris is called "event
		5165	ports". Unfortunately, this mechanism is very buggy in all major
		5166	releases. If you run into high CPU usage, your program freezes or you get
		5167	a large number of spurious wakeups, make sure you have all the relevant
		5168	and latest kernel patches applied. No, I don't know which ones, but there
		5169	are multiple ones to apply, and afterwards, event ports actually work
		5170	great.
		5171
		5172	If you can't get it to work, you can try running the program by setting
		5173	the environment variable C<LIBEV_FLAGS=3> to only allow C<poll> and
		5174	C<select> backends.
		5175
		5176	=head2 AIX POLL BUG
		5177
		5178	AIX unfortunately has a broken C<poll.h> header. Libev works around
		5179	this by trying to avoid the poll backend altogether (i.e. it's not even
		5180	compiled in), which normally isn't a big problem as C<select> works fine
		5181	with large bitsets on AIX, and AIX is dead anyway.
		5182
4395	=head2 WIN32 PLATFORM LIMITATIONS AND WORKAROUNDS	5183	=head2 WIN32 PLATFORM LIMITATIONS AND WORKAROUNDS
		5184
		5185	=head3 General issues
4396		5186
4397	Win32 doesn't support any of the standards (e.g. POSIX) that libev	5187	Win32 doesn't support any of the standards (e.g. POSIX) that libev
4398	requires, and its I/O model is fundamentally incompatible with the POSIX	5188	requires, and its I/O model is fundamentally incompatible with the POSIX
4399	model. Libev still offers limited functionality on this platform in	5189	model. Libev still offers limited functionality on this platform in
4400	the form of the C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> backend, and only supports socket	5190	the form of the C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> backend, and only supports socket
4401	descriptors. This only applies when using Win32 natively, not when using	5191	descriptors. This only applies when using Win32 natively, not when using
4402	e.g. cygwin.	5192	e.g. cygwin. Actually, it only applies to the microsofts own compilers,
		5193	as every compiler comes with a slightly differently broken/incompatible
		5194	environment.
4403		5195
4404	Lifting these limitations would basically require the full	5196	Lifting these limitations would basically require the full
4405	re-implementation of the I/O system. If you are into these kinds of	5197	re-implementation of the I/O system. If you are into this kind of thing,
4406	things, then note that glib does exactly that for you in a very portable	5198	then note that glib does exactly that for you in a very portable way (note
4407	way (note also that glib is the slowest event library known to man).	5199	also that glib is the slowest event library known to man).
4408		5200
4409	There is no supported compilation method available on windows except	5201	There is no supported compilation method available on windows except
4410	embedding it into other applications.	5202	embedding it into other applications.
4411		5203
4412	Sensible signal handling is officially unsupported by Microsoft - libev	5204	Sensible signal handling is officially unsupported by Microsoft - libev
…		…
4440	you do I<not> compile the F<ev.c> or any other embedded source files!):	5232	you do I<not> compile the F<ev.c> or any other embedded source files!):
4441		5233
4442	#include "evwrap.h"	5234	#include "evwrap.h"
4443	#include "ev.c"	5235	#include "ev.c"
4444		5236
4445	=over 4
4446
4447	=item The winsocket select function	5237	=head3 The winsocket C<select> function
4448		5238
4449	The winsocket C<select> function doesn't follow POSIX in that it	5239	The winsocket C<select> function doesn't follow POSIX in that it
4450	requires socket I<handles> and not socket I<file descriptors> (it is	5240	requires socket I<handles> and not socket I<file descriptors> (it is
4451	also extremely buggy). This makes select very inefficient, and also	5241	also extremely buggy). This makes select very inefficient, and also
4452	requires a mapping from file descriptors to socket handles (the Microsoft	5242	requires a mapping from file descriptors to socket handles (the Microsoft
…		…
4461	#define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* forces EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET, too */	5251	#define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* forces EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET, too */
4462		5252
4463	Note that winsockets handling of fd sets is O(n), so you can easily get a	5253	Note that winsockets handling of fd sets is O(n), so you can easily get a
4464	complexity in the O(n²) range when using win32.	5254	complexity in the O(n²) range when using win32.
4465		5255
4466	=item Limited number of file descriptors	5256	=head3 Limited number of file descriptors
4467		5257
4468	Windows has numerous arbitrary (and low) limits on things.	5258	Windows has numerous arbitrary (and low) limits on things.
4469		5259
4470	Early versions of winsocket's select only supported waiting for a maximum	5260	Early versions of winsocket's select only supported waiting for a maximum
4471	of C<64> handles (probably owning to the fact that all windows kernels	5261	of C<64> handles (probably owning to the fact that all windows kernels
…		…
4486	runtime libraries. This might get you to about C<512> or C<2048> sockets	5276	runtime libraries. This might get you to about C<512> or C<2048> sockets
4487	(depending on windows version and/or the phase of the moon). To get more,	5277	(depending on windows version and/or the phase of the moon). To get more,
4488	you need to wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but	5278	you need to wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but
4489	the cost of calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable.	5279	the cost of calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable.
4490		5280
4491	=back
4492
4493	=head2 PORTABILITY REQUIREMENTS	5281	=head2 PORTABILITY REQUIREMENTS
4494		5282
4495	In addition to a working ISO-C implementation and of course the	5283	In addition to a working ISO-C implementation and of course the
4496	backend-specific APIs, libev relies on a few additional extensions:	5284	backend-specific APIs, libev relies on a few additional extensions:
4497		5285
…		…
4503	Libev assumes not only that all watcher pointers have the same internal	5291	Libev assumes not only that all watcher pointers have the same internal
4504	structure (guaranteed by POSIX but not by ISO C for example), but it also	5292	structure (guaranteed by POSIX but not by ISO C for example), but it also
4505	assumes that the same (machine) code can be used to call any watcher	5293	assumes that the same (machine) code can be used to call any watcher
4506	callback: The watcher callbacks have different type signatures, but libev	5294	callback: The watcher callbacks have different type signatures, but libev
4507	calls them using an C<ev_watcher *> internally.	5295	calls them using an C<ev_watcher *> internally.
		5296
		5297	=item pointer accesses must be thread-atomic
		5298
		5299	Accessing a pointer value must be atomic, it must both be readable and
		5300	writable in one piece - this is the case on all current architectures.
4508		5301
4509	=item C<sig_atomic_t volatile> must be thread-atomic as well	5302	=item C<sig_atomic_t volatile> must be thread-atomic as well
4510		5303
4511	The type C<sig_atomic_t volatile> (or whatever is defined as	5304	The type C<sig_atomic_t volatile> (or whatever is defined as
4512	C<EV_ATOMIC_T>) must be atomic with respect to accesses from different	5305	C<EV_ATOMIC_T>) must be atomic with respect to accesses from different
…		…
4521	thread" or will block signals process-wide, both behaviours would	5314	thread" or will block signals process-wide, both behaviours would
4522	be compatible with libev. Interaction between C<sigprocmask> and	5315	be compatible with libev. Interaction between C<sigprocmask> and
4523	C<pthread_sigmask> could complicate things, however.	5316	C<pthread_sigmask> could complicate things, however.
4524		5317
4525	The most portable way to handle signals is to block signals in all threads	5318	The most portable way to handle signals is to block signals in all threads
4526	except the initial one, and run the default loop in the initial thread as	5319	except the initial one, and run the signal handling loop in the initial
4527	well.	5320	thread as well.
4528		5321
4529	=item C<long> must be large enough for common memory allocation sizes	5322	=item C<long> must be large enough for common memory allocation sizes
4530		5323
4531	To improve portability and simplify its API, libev uses C<long> internally	5324	To improve portability and simplify its API, libev uses C<long> internally
4532	instead of C<size_t> when allocating its data structures. On non-POSIX	5325	instead of C<size_t> when allocating its data structures. On non-POSIX
…		…
4535	watchers.	5328	watchers.
4536		5329
4537	=item C<double> must hold a time value in seconds with enough accuracy	5330	=item C<double> must hold a time value in seconds with enough accuracy
4538		5331
4539	The type C<double> is used to represent timestamps. It is required to	5332	The type C<double> is used to represent timestamps. It is required to
4540	have at least 51 bits of mantissa (and 9 bits of exponent), which is good	5333	have at least 51 bits of mantissa (and 9 bits of exponent), which is
4541	enough for at least into the year 4000. This requirement is fulfilled by	5334	good enough for at least into the year 4000 with millisecond accuracy
		5335	(the design goal for libev). This requirement is overfulfilled by
4542	implementations implementing IEEE 754, which is basically all existing	5336	implementations using IEEE 754, which is basically all existing ones.
		5337
4543	ones. With IEEE 754 doubles, you get microsecond accuracy until at least	5338	With IEEE 754 doubles, you get microsecond accuracy until at least the
4544	2200.	5339	year 2255 (and millisecond accuracy till the year 287396 - by then, libev
		5340	is either obsolete or somebody patched it to use C<long double> or
		5341	something like that, just kidding).
4545		5342
4546	=back	5343	=back
4547		5344
4548	If you know of other additional requirements drop me a note.	5345	If you know of other additional requirements drop me a note.
4549		5346
…		…
4611	=item Processing ev_async_send: O(number_of_async_watchers)	5408	=item Processing ev_async_send: O(number_of_async_watchers)
4612		5409
4613	=item Processing signals: O(max_signal_number)	5410	=item Processing signals: O(max_signal_number)
4614		5411
4615	Sending involves a system call I<iff> there were no other C<ev_async_send>	5412	Sending involves a system call I<iff> there were no other C<ev_async_send>
4616	calls in the current loop iteration. Checking for async and signal events	5413	calls in the current loop iteration and the loop is currently
		5414	blocked. Checking for async and signal events involves iterating over all
4617	involves iterating over all running async watchers or all signal numbers.	5415	running async watchers or all signal numbers.
4618		5416
4619	=back	5417	=back
4620		5418
4621		5419
		5420	=head1 PORTING FROM LIBEV 3.X TO 4.X
		5421
		5422	The major version 4 introduced some incompatible changes to the API.
		5423
		5424	At the moment, the C<ev.h> header file provides compatibility definitions
		5425	for all changes, so most programs should still compile. The compatibility
		5426	layer might be removed in later versions of libev, so better update to the
		5427	new API early than late.
		5428
		5429	=over 4
		5430
		5431	=item C<EV_COMPAT3> backwards compatibility mechanism
		5432
		5433	The backward compatibility mechanism can be controlled by
		5434	C<EV_COMPAT3>. See L</PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS> in the L</EMBEDDING>
		5435	section.
		5436
		5437	=item C<ev_default_destroy> and C<ev_default_fork> have been removed
		5438
		5439	These calls can be replaced easily by their C<ev_loop_xxx> counterparts:
		5440
		5441	ev_loop_destroy (EV_DEFAULT_UC);
		5442	ev_loop_fork (EV_DEFAULT);
		5443
		5444	=item function/symbol renames
		5445
		5446	A number of functions and symbols have been renamed:
		5447
		5448	ev_loop => ev_run
		5449	EVLOOP_NONBLOCK => EVRUN_NOWAIT
		5450	EVLOOP_ONESHOT => EVRUN_ONCE
		5451
		5452	ev_unloop => ev_break
		5453	EVUNLOOP_CANCEL => EVBREAK_CANCEL
		5454	EVUNLOOP_ONE => EVBREAK_ONE
		5455	EVUNLOOP_ALL => EVBREAK_ALL
		5456
		5457	EV_TIMEOUT => EV_TIMER
		5458
		5459	ev_loop_count => ev_iteration
		5460	ev_loop_depth => ev_depth
		5461	ev_loop_verify => ev_verify
		5462
		5463	Most functions working on C<struct ev_loop> objects don't have an
		5464	C<ev_loop_> prefix, so it was removed; C<ev_loop>, C<ev_unloop> and
		5465	associated constants have been renamed to not collide with the C<struct
		5466	ev_loop> anymore and C<EV_TIMER> now follows the same naming scheme
		5467	as all other watcher types. Note that C<ev_loop_fork> is still called
		5468	C<ev_loop_fork> because it would otherwise clash with the C<ev_fork>
		5469	typedef.
		5470
		5471	=item C<EV_MINIMAL> mechanism replaced by C<EV_FEATURES>
		5472
		5473	The preprocessor symbol C<EV_MINIMAL> has been replaced by a different
		5474	mechanism, C<EV_FEATURES>. Programs using C<EV_MINIMAL> usually compile
		5475	and work, but the library code will of course be larger.
		5476
		5477	=back
		5478
		5479
4622	=head1 GLOSSARY	5480	=head1 GLOSSARY
4623		5481
4624	=over 4	5482	=over 4
4625		5483
4626	=item active	5484	=item active
4627		5485
4628	A watcher is active as long as it has been started (has been attached to	5486	A watcher is active as long as it has been started and not yet stopped.
4629	an event loop) but not yet stopped (disassociated from the event loop).	5487	See L</WATCHER STATES> for details.
4630		5488
4631	=item application	5489	=item application
4632		5490
4633	In this document, an application is whatever is using libev.	5491	In this document, an application is whatever is using libev.
		5492
		5493	=item backend
		5494
		5495	The part of the code dealing with the operating system interfaces.
4634		5496
4635	=item callback	5497	=item callback
4636		5498
4637	The address of a function that is called when some event has been	5499	The address of a function that is called when some event has been
4638	detected. Callbacks are being passed the event loop, the watcher that	5500	detected. Callbacks are being passed the event loop, the watcher that
4639	received the event, and the actual event bitset.	5501	received the event, and the actual event bitset.
4640		5502
4641	=item callback invocation	5503	=item callback/watcher invocation
4642		5504
4643	The act of calling the callback associated with a watcher.	5505	The act of calling the callback associated with a watcher.
4644		5506
4645	=item event	5507	=item event
4646		5508
4647	A change of state of some external event, such as data now being available	5509	A change of state of some external event, such as data now being available
4648	for reading on a file descriptor, time having passed or simply not having	5510	for reading on a file descriptor, time having passed or simply not having
4649	any other events happening anymore.	5511	any other events happening anymore.
4650		5512
4651	In libev, events are represented as single bits (such as C<EV_READ> or	5513	In libev, events are represented as single bits (such as C<EV_READ> or
4652	C<EV_TIMEOUT>).	5514	C<EV_TIMER>).
4653		5515
4654	=item event library	5516	=item event library
4655		5517
4656	A software package implementing an event model and loop.	5518	A software package implementing an event model and loop.
4657		5519
…		…
4665	The model used to describe how an event loop handles and processes	5527	The model used to describe how an event loop handles and processes
4666	watchers and events.	5528	watchers and events.
4667		5529
4668	=item pending	5530	=item pending
4669		5531
4670	A watcher is pending as soon as the corresponding event has been detected,	5532	A watcher is pending as soon as the corresponding event has been
4671	and stops being pending as soon as the watcher will be invoked or its	5533	detected. See L</WATCHER STATES> for details.
4672	pending status is explicitly cleared by the application.
4673
4674	A watcher can be pending, but not active. Stopping a watcher also clears
4675	its pending status.
4676		5534
4677	=item real time	5535	=item real time
4678		5536
4679	The physical time that is observed. It is apparently strictly monotonic :)	5537	The physical time that is observed. It is apparently strictly monotonic :)
4680		5538
4681	=item wall-clock time	5539	=item wall-clock time
4682		5540
4683	The time and date as shown on clocks. Unlike real time, it can actually	5541	The time and date as shown on clocks. Unlike real time, it can actually
4684	be wrong and jump forwards and backwards, e.g. when the you adjust your	5542	be wrong and jump forwards and backwards, e.g. when you adjust your
4685	clock.	5543	clock.
4686		5544
4687	=item watcher	5545	=item watcher
4688		5546
4689	A data structure that describes interest in certain events. Watchers need	5547	A data structure that describes interest in certain events. Watchers need
4690	to be started (attached to an event loop) before they can receive events.	5548	to be started (attached to an event loop) before they can receive events.
4691		5549
4692	=item watcher invocation
4693
4694	The act of calling the callback associated with a watcher.
4695
4696	=back	5550	=back
4697		5551
4698	=head1 AUTHOR	5552	=head1 AUTHOR
4699		5553
4700	Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>, with repeated corrections by Mikael Magnusson.	5554	Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>, with repeated corrections by Mikael
		5555	Magnusson and Emanuele Giaquinta, and minor corrections by many others.
4701		5556

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