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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);
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_run (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
77on event-based programming, nor will it introduce event-based programming 77on event-based programming, nor will it introduce event-based programming
78with libev. 78with libev.
79 79
80Familiarity with event based programming techniques in general is assumed 80Familiarity with event based programming techniques in general is assumed
81throughout this document. 81throughout this document.
82
83=head1 WHAT TO READ WHEN IN A HURRY
84
85This manual tries to be very detailed, but unfortunately, this also makes
86it very long. If you just want to know the basics of libev, I suggest
87reading L<ANATOMY OF A WATCHER>, then the L<EXAMPLE PROGRAM> above and
88look up the missing functions in L<GLOBAL FUNCTIONS> and the C<ev_io> and
89C<ev_timer> sections in L<WATCHER TYPES>.
82 90
83=head1 ABOUT LIBEV 91=head1 ABOUT LIBEV
84 92
85Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a 93Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a
86file descriptor being readable or a timeout occurring), and it will manage 94file descriptor being readable or a timeout occurring), and it will manage
165 173
166=item ev_tstamp ev_time () 174=item ev_tstamp ev_time ()
167 175
168Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the 176Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the
169C<ev_now> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp 177C<ev_now> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp
170you actually want to know. Also interetsing is the combination of 178you actually want to know. Also interesting is the combination of
171C<ev_update_now> and C<ev_now>. 179C<ev_update_now> and C<ev_now>.
172 180
173=item ev_sleep (ev_tstamp interval) 181=item ev_sleep (ev_tstamp interval)
174 182
175Sleep for the given interval: The current thread will be blocked until 183Sleep for the given interval: The current thread will be blocked until
233the current system, you would need to look at C<ev_embeddable_backends () 241the current system, you would need to look at C<ev_embeddable_backends ()
234& ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for recommended ones. 242& ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for recommended ones.
235 243
236See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info. 244See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
237 245
238=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size)) [NOT REENTRANT] 246=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))
239 247
240Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the 248Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the
241semantics are identical to the C<realloc> C89/SuS/POSIX function). It is 249semantics are identical to the C<realloc> C89/SuS/POSIX function). It is
242used to allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero 250used to allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero
243when memory needs to be allocated (C<size != 0>), the library might abort 251when memory needs to be allocated (C<size != 0>), the library might abort
269 } 277 }
270 278
271 ... 279 ...
272 ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc); 280 ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);
273 281
274=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg)); [NOT REENTRANT] 282=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg))
275 283
276Set the callback function to call on a retryable system call error (such 284Set the callback function to call on a retryable system call error (such
277as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string 285as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string
278indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this 286indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this
279callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the situation, no 287callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the situation, no
291 } 299 }
292 300
293 ... 301 ...
294 ev_set_syserr_cb (fatal_error); 302 ev_set_syserr_cb (fatal_error);
295 303
304=item ev_feed_signal (int signum)
305
306This function can be used to "simulate" a signal receive. It is completely
307safe to call this function at any time, from any context, including signal
308handlers or random threads.
309
310Its main use is to customise signal handling in your process, especially
311in the presence of threads. For example, you could block signals
312by default in all threads (and specifying C<EVFLAG_NOSIGMASK> when
313creating any loops), and in one thread, use C<sigwait> or any other
314mechanism to wait for signals, then "deliver" them to libev by calling
315C<ev_feed_signal>.
316
296=back 317=back
297 318
298=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP 319=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING EVENT LOOPS
299 320
300An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *> (the C<struct> is 321An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *> (the C<struct> is
301I<not> optional in this case unless libev 3 compatibility is disabled, as 322I<not> optional in this case unless libev 3 compatibility is disabled, as
302libev 3 had an C<ev_loop> function colliding with the struct name). 323libev 3 had an C<ev_loop> function colliding with the struct name).
303 324
304The library knows two types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which 325The library knows two types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which
305supports signals and child events, and dynamically created event loops 326supports child process events, and dynamically created event loops which
306which do not. 327do not.
307 328
308=over 4 329=over 4
309 330
310=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags) 331=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)
311 332
312This will initialise the default event loop if it hasn't been initialised 333This returns the "default" event loop object, which is what you should
313yet and return it. If the default loop could not be initialised, returns 334normally use when you just need "the event loop". Event loop objects and
314false. If it already was initialised it simply returns it (and ignores the 335the C<flags> parameter are described in more detail in the entry for
315flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards). 336C<ev_loop_new>.
337
338If the default loop is already initialised then this function simply
339returns it (and ignores the flags. If that is troubling you, check
340C<ev_backend ()> afterwards). Otherwise it will create it with the given
341flags, which should almost always be C<0>, unless the caller is also the
342one calling C<ev_run> or otherwise qualifies as "the main program".
316 343
317If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this 344If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this
318function. 345function (or via the C<EV_DEFAULT> macro).
319 346
320Note that this function is I<not> thread-safe, so if you want to use it 347Note that this function is I<not> thread-safe, so if you want to use it
321from multiple threads, you have to lock (note also that this is unlikely, 348from multiple threads, you have to employ some kind of mutex (note also
322as loops cannot be shared easily between threads anyway). 349that this case is unlikely, as loops cannot be shared easily between
350threads anyway).
323 351
324The default loop is the only loop that can handle C<ev_signal> and 352The default loop is the only loop that can handle C<ev_child> watchers,
325C<ev_child> watchers, and to do this, it always registers a handler 353and to do this, it always registers a handler for C<SIGCHLD>. If this is
326for C<SIGCHLD>. If this is a problem for your application you can either 354a problem for your application you can either create a dynamic loop with
327create a dynamic loop with C<ev_loop_new> that doesn't do that, or you 355C<ev_loop_new> which doesn't do that, or you can simply overwrite the
328can simply overwrite the C<SIGCHLD> signal handler I<after> calling 356C<SIGCHLD> signal handler I<after> calling C<ev_default_init>.
329C<ev_default_init>. 357
358Example: This is the most typical usage.
359
360 if (!ev_default_loop (0))
361 fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");
362
363Example: Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow
364environment settings to be taken into account:
365
366 ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);
367
368=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)
369
370This will create and initialise a new event loop object. If the loop
371could not be initialised, returns false.
372
373This function is thread-safe, and one common way to use libev with
374threads is indeed to create one loop per thread, and using the default
375loop in the "main" or "initial" thread.
330 376
331The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific 377The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific
332backends to use, and is usually specified as C<0> (or C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). 378backends to use, and is usually specified as C<0> (or C<EVFLAG_AUTO>).
333 379
334The following flags are supported: 380The following flags are supported:
369environment variable. 415environment variable.
370 416
371=item C<EVFLAG_NOINOTIFY> 417=item C<EVFLAG_NOINOTIFY>
372 418
373When this flag is specified, then libev will not attempt to use the 419When this flag is specified, then libev will not attempt to use the
374I<inotify> API for it's C<ev_stat> watchers. Apart from debugging and 420I<inotify> API for its C<ev_stat> watchers. Apart from debugging and
375testing, this flag can be useful to conserve inotify file descriptors, as 421testing, this flag can be useful to conserve inotify file descriptors, as
376otherwise each loop using C<ev_stat> watchers consumes one inotify handle. 422otherwise each loop using C<ev_stat> watchers consumes one inotify handle.
377 423
378=item C<EVFLAG_SIGNALFD> 424=item C<EVFLAG_SIGNALFD>
379 425
380When this flag is specified, then libev will attempt to use the 426When this flag is specified, then libev will attempt to use the
381I<signalfd> API for it's C<ev_signal> (and C<ev_child>) watchers. This API 427I<signalfd> API for its C<ev_signal> (and C<ev_child>) watchers. This API
382delivers signals synchronously, which makes it both faster and might make 428delivers signals synchronously, which makes it both faster and might make
383it possible to get the queued signal data. It can also simplify signal 429it possible to get the queued signal data. It can also simplify signal
384handling with threads, as long as you properly block signals in your 430handling with threads, as long as you properly block signals in your
385threads that are not interested in handling them. 431threads that are not interested in handling them.
386 432
387Signalfd will not be used by default as this changes your signal mask, and 433Signalfd will not be used by default as this changes your signal mask, and
388there are a lot of shoddy libraries and programs (glib's threadpool for 434there are a lot of shoddy libraries and programs (glib's threadpool for
389example) that can't properly initialise their signal masks. 435example) that can't properly initialise their signal masks.
436
437=item C<EVFLAG_NOSIGMASK>
438
439When this flag is specified, then libev will avoid to modify the signal
440mask. Specifically, this means you ahve to make sure signals are unblocked
441when you want to receive them.
442
443This behaviour is useful when you want to do your own signal handling, or
444want to handle signals only in specific threads and want to avoid libev
445unblocking the signals.
446
447It's also required by POSIX in a threaded program, as libev calls
448C<sigprocmask>, whose behaviour is officially unspecified.
449
450This flag's behaviour will become the default in future versions of libev.
390 451
391=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend) 452=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)
392 453
393This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as 454This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as
394libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds, 455libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,
422=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux) 483=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)
423 484
424Use the linux-specific epoll(7) interface (for both pre- and post-2.6.9 485Use the linux-specific epoll(7) interface (for both pre- and post-2.6.9
425kernels). 486kernels).
426 487
427For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select, 488For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select, but
428but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale 489it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale like
429like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd), 490O(total_fds) where total_fds is the total number of fds (or the highest
430epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds). 491fd), epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds).
431 492
432The epoll mechanism deserves honorable mention as the most misdesigned 493The epoll mechanism deserves honorable mention as the most misdesigned
433of the more advanced event mechanisms: mere annoyances include silently 494of the more advanced event mechanisms: mere annoyances include silently
434dropping file descriptors, requiring a system call per change per file 495dropping file descriptors, requiring a system call per change per file
435descriptor (and unnecessary guessing of parameters), problems with dup and 496descriptor (and unnecessary guessing of parameters), problems with dup,
497returning before the timeout value, resulting in additional iterations
498(and only giving 5ms accuracy while select on the same platform gives
436so on. The biggest issue is fork races, however - if a program forks then 4990.1ms) and so on. The biggest issue is fork races, however - if a program
437I<both> parent and child process have to recreate the epoll set, which can 500forks then I<both> parent and child process have to recreate the epoll
438take considerable time (one syscall per file descriptor) and is of course 501set, which can take considerable time (one syscall per file descriptor)
439hard to detect. 502and is of course hard to detect.
440 503
441Epoll is also notoriously buggy - embedding epoll fds I<should> work, but 504Epoll is also notoriously buggy - embedding epoll fds I<should> work,
442of course I<doesn't>, and epoll just loves to report events for totally 505but of course I<doesn't>, and epoll just loves to report events for
443I<different> file descriptors (even already closed ones, so one cannot 506totally I<different> file descriptors (even already closed ones, so
444even remove them from the set) than registered in the set (especially 507one cannot even remove them from the set) than registered in the set
445on SMP systems). Libev tries to counter these spurious notifications by 508(especially on SMP systems). Libev tries to counter these spurious
446employing an additional generation counter and comparing that against the 509notifications by employing an additional generation counter and comparing
447events to filter out spurious ones, recreating the set when required. Last 510that against the events to filter out spurious ones, recreating the set
511when required. Epoll also errornously rounds down timeouts, but gives you
512no way to know when and by how much, so sometimes you have to busy-wait
513because epoll returns immediately despite a nonzero timeout. And last
448not least, it also refuses to work with some file descriptors which work 514not least, it also refuses to work with some file descriptors which work
449perfectly fine with C<select> (files, many character devices...). 515perfectly fine with C<select> (files, many character devices...).
516
517Epoll is truly the train wreck among event poll mechanisms, a frankenpoll,
518cobbled together in a hurry, no thought to design or interaction with
519others. Oh, the pain, will it ever stop...
450 520
451While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration 521While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration
452will result in some caching, there is still a system call per such 522will result in some caching, there is still a system call per such
453incident (because the same I<file descriptor> could point to a different 523incident (because the same I<file descriptor> could point to a different
454I<file description> now), so its best to avoid that. Also, C<dup ()>'ed 524I<file description> now), so its best to avoid that. Also, C<dup ()>'ed
520=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10) 590=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)
521 591
522This uses the Solaris 10 event port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris, 592This uses the Solaris 10 event port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,
523it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)). 593it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).
524 594
525Please note that Solaris event ports can deliver a lot of spurious
526notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid
527blocking when no data (or space) is available.
528
529While this backend scales well, it requires one system call per active 595While this backend scales well, it requires one system call per active
530file descriptor per loop iteration. For small and medium numbers of file 596file descriptor per loop iteration. For small and medium numbers of file
531descriptors a "slow" C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL> backend 597descriptors a "slow" C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL> backend
532might perform better. 598might perform better.
533 599
534On the positive side, with the exception of the spurious readiness 600On the positive side, this backend actually performed fully to
535notifications, this backend actually performed fully to specification
536in all tests and is fully embeddable, which is a rare feat among the 601specification in all tests and is fully embeddable, which is a rare feat
537OS-specific backends (I vastly prefer correctness over speed hacks). 602among the OS-specific backends (I vastly prefer correctness over speed
603hacks).
604
605On the negative side, the interface is I<bizarre> - so bizarre that
606even sun itself gets it wrong in their code examples: The event polling
607function sometimes returning events to the caller even though an error
608occurred, but with no indication whether it has done so or not (yes, it's
609even documented that way) - deadly for edge-triggered interfaces where
610you absolutely have to know whether an event occurred or not because you
611have to re-arm the watcher.
612
613Fortunately libev seems to be able to work around these idiocies.
538 614
539This backend maps C<EV_READ> and C<EV_WRITE> in the same way as 615This backend maps C<EV_READ> and C<EV_WRITE> in the same way as
540C<EVBACKEND_POLL>. 616C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
541 617
542=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL> 618=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>
543 619
544Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried 620Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried
545with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as 621with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as
546C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>. 622C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.
547 623
548It is definitely not recommended to use this flag. 624It is definitely not recommended to use this flag, use whatever
625C<ev_recommended_backends ()> returns, or simply do not specify a backend
626at all.
627
628=item C<EVBACKEND_MASK>
629
630Not a backend at all, but a mask to select all backend bits from a
631C<flags> value, in case you want to mask out any backends from a flags
632value (e.g. when modifying the C<LIBEV_FLAGS> environment variable).
549 633
550=back 634=back
551 635
552If one or more of the backend flags are or'ed into the flags value, 636If one or more of the backend flags are or'ed into the flags value,
553then only these backends will be tried (in the reverse order as listed 637then only these backends will be tried (in the reverse order as listed
554here). If none are specified, all backends in C<ev_recommended_backends 638here). If none are specified, all backends in C<ev_recommended_backends
555()> will be tried. 639()> will be tried.
556 640
557Example: This is the most typical usage.
558
559 if (!ev_default_loop (0))
560 fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");
561
562Example: Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow
563environment settings to be taken into account:
564
565 ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);
566
567Example: Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is
568used if available (warning, breaks stuff, best use only with your own
569private event loop and only if you know the OS supports your types of
570fds):
571
572 ev_default_loop (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);
573
574=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)
575
576Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is
577always distinct from the default loop.
578
579Note that this function I<is> thread-safe, and one common way to use
580libev with threads is indeed to create one loop per thread, and using the
581default loop in the "main" or "initial" thread.
582
583Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else. 641Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.
584 642
585 struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV); 643 struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
586 if (!epoller) 644 if (!epoller)
587 fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair"); 645 fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");
588 646
647Example: Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is
648used if available.
649
650 struct ev_loop *loop = ev_loop_new (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);
651
589=item ev_default_destroy () 652=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)
590 653
591Destroys the default loop (frees all memory and kernel state etc.). None 654Destroys an event loop object (frees all memory and kernel state
592of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal sense, so 655etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal
593e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your responsibility to 656sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your
594either stop all watchers cleanly yourself I<before> calling this function, 657responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yourself I<before>
595or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually the easiest thing, you 658calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually
596can just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them for example). 659the easiest thing, you can just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them
660for example).
597 661
598Note that certain global state, such as signal state (and installed signal 662Note that certain global state, such as signal state (and installed signal
599handlers), will not be freed by this function, and related watchers (such 663handlers), will not be freed by this function, and related watchers (such
600as signal and child watchers) would need to be stopped manually. 664as signal and child watchers) would need to be stopped manually.
601 665
602In general it is not advisable to call this function except in the 666This function is normally used on loop objects allocated by
603rare occasion where you really need to free e.g. the signal handling 667C<ev_loop_new>, but it can also be used on the default loop returned by
668C<ev_default_loop>, in which case it is not thread-safe.
669
670Note that it is not advisable to call this function on the default loop
671except in the rare occasion where you really need to free its resources.
604pipe fds. If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use 672If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use C<ev_loop_new>
605C<ev_loop_new> and C<ev_loop_destroy>. 673and C<ev_loop_destroy>.
606 674
607=item ev_loop_destroy (loop) 675=item ev_loop_fork (loop)
608 676
609Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an
610earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>.
611
612=item ev_default_fork ()
613
614This function sets a flag that causes subsequent C<ev_run> iterations 677This function sets a flag that causes subsequent C<ev_run> iterations to
615to reinitialise the kernel state for backends that have one. Despite the 678reinitialise the kernel state for backends that have one. Despite the
616name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense after forking, in 679name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense after forking, in
617the child process (or both child and parent, but that again makes little 680the child process. You I<must> call it (or use C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>) in the
618sense). You I<must> call it in the child before using any of the libev 681child before resuming or calling C<ev_run>.
619functions, and it will only take effect at the next C<ev_run> iteration.
620 682
621Again, you I<have> to call it on I<any> loop that you want to re-use after 683Again, you I<have> to call it on I<any> loop that you want to re-use after
622a fork, I<even if you do not plan to use the loop in the parent>. This is 684a fork, I<even if you do not plan to use the loop in the parent>. This is
623because some kernel interfaces *cough* I<kqueue> *cough* do funny things 685because some kernel interfaces *cough* I<kqueue> *cough* do funny things
624during fork. 686during fork.
629call it at all (in fact, C<epoll> is so badly broken that it makes a 691call it at all (in fact, C<epoll> is so badly broken that it makes a
630difference, but libev will usually detect this case on its own and do a 692difference, but libev will usually detect this case on its own and do a
631costly reset of the backend). 693costly reset of the backend).
632 694
633The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call 695The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call
634it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in 696it just in case after a fork.
635quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>:
636 697
698Example: Automate calling C<ev_loop_fork> on the default loop when
699using pthreads.
700
701 static void
702 post_fork_child (void)
703 {
704 ev_loop_fork (EV_DEFAULT);
705 }
706
707 ...
637 pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork); 708 pthread_atfork (0, 0, post_fork_child);
638
639=item ev_loop_fork (loop)
640
641Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by
642C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
643after fork that you want to re-use in the child, and how you keep track of
644them is entirely your own problem.
645 709
646=item int ev_is_default_loop (loop) 710=item int ev_is_default_loop (loop)
647 711
648Returns true when the given loop is, in fact, the default loop, and false 712Returns true when the given loop is, in fact, the default loop, and false
649otherwise. 713otherwise.
660prepare and check phases. 724prepare and check phases.
661 725
662=item unsigned int ev_depth (loop) 726=item unsigned int ev_depth (loop)
663 727
664Returns the number of times C<ev_run> was entered minus the number of 728Returns the number of times C<ev_run> was entered minus the number of
665times C<ev_run> was exited, in other words, the recursion depth. 729times C<ev_run> was exited normally, in other words, the recursion depth.
666 730
667Outside C<ev_run>, this number is zero. In a callback, this number is 731Outside C<ev_run>, this number is zero. In a callback, this number is
668C<1>, unless C<ev_run> was invoked recursively (or from another thread), 732C<1>, unless C<ev_run> was invoked recursively (or from another thread),
669in which case it is higher. 733in which case it is higher.
670 734
671Leaving C<ev_run> abnormally (setjmp/longjmp, cancelling the thread 735Leaving C<ev_run> abnormally (setjmp/longjmp, cancelling the thread,
672etc.), doesn't count as "exit" - consider this as a hint to avoid such 736throwing an exception etc.), doesn't count as "exit" - consider this
673ungentleman-like behaviour unless it's really convenient. 737as a hint to avoid such ungentleman-like behaviour unless it's really
738convenient, in which case it is fully supported.
674 739
675=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop) 740=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)
676 741
677Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in 742Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in
678use. 743use.
740finished (especially in interactive programs), but having a program 805finished (especially in interactive programs), but having a program
741that automatically loops as long as it has to and no longer by virtue 806that automatically loops as long as it has to and no longer by virtue
742of relying on its watchers stopping correctly, that is truly a thing of 807of relying on its watchers stopping correctly, that is truly a thing of
743beauty. 808beauty.
744 809
810This function is also I<mostly> exception-safe - you can break out of
811a C<ev_run> call by calling C<longjmp> in a callback, throwing a C++
812exception and so on. This does not decrement the C<ev_depth> value, nor
813will it clear any outstanding C<EVBREAK_ONE> breaks.
814
745A flags value of C<EVRUN_NOWAIT> will look for new events, will handle 815A flags value of C<EVRUN_NOWAIT> will look for new events, will handle
746those events and any already outstanding ones, but will not wait and 816those events and any already outstanding ones, but will not wait and
747block your process in case there are no events and will return after one 817block your process in case there are no events and will return after one
748iteration of the loop. This is sometimes useful to poll and handle new 818iteration of the loop. This is sometimes useful to poll and handle new
749events while doing lengthy calculations, to keep the program responsive. 819events while doing lengthy calculations, to keep the program responsive.
758This is useful if you are waiting for some external event in conjunction 828This is useful if you are waiting for some external event in conjunction
759with something not expressible using other libev watchers (i.e. "roll your 829with something not expressible using other libev watchers (i.e. "roll your
760own C<ev_run>"). However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is 830own C<ev_run>"). However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is
761usually a better approach for this kind of thing. 831usually a better approach for this kind of thing.
762 832
763Here are the gory details of what C<ev_run> does: 833Here are the gory details of what C<ev_run> does (this is for your
834understanding, not a guarantee that things will work exactly like this in
835future versions):
764 836
765 - Increment loop depth. 837 - Increment loop depth.
766 - Reset the ev_break status. 838 - Reset the ev_break status.
767 - Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers. 839 - Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
768 LOOP: 840 LOOP:
801anymore. 873anymore.
802 874
803 ... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long 875 ... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
804 ... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..) 876 ... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
805 ev_run (my_loop, 0); 877 ev_run (my_loop, 0);
806 ... jobs done or somebody called unloop. yeah! 878 ... jobs done or somebody called break. yeah!
807 879
808=item ev_break (loop, how) 880=item ev_break (loop, how)
809 881
810Can be used to make a call to C<ev_run> return early (but only after it 882Can be used to make a call to C<ev_run> return early (but only after it
811has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either 883has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either
812C<EVBREAK_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_run> call return, or 884C<EVBREAK_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_run> call return, or
813C<EVBREAK_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_run> calls return. 885C<EVBREAK_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_run> calls return.
814 886
815This "unloop state" will be cleared when entering C<ev_run> again. 887This "break state" will be cleared on the next call to C<ev_run>.
816 888
817It is safe to call C<ev_break> from outside any C<ev_run> calls. ##TODO## 889It is safe to call C<ev_break> from outside any C<ev_run> calls, too, in
890which case it will have no effect.
818 891
819=item ev_ref (loop) 892=item ev_ref (loop)
820 893
821=item ev_unref (loop) 894=item ev_unref (loop)
822 895
843running when nothing else is active. 916running when nothing else is active.
844 917
845 ev_signal exitsig; 918 ev_signal exitsig;
846 ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT); 919 ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
847 ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig); 920 ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);
848 evf_unref (loop); 921 ev_unref (loop);
849 922
850Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again. 923Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.
851 924
852 ev_ref (loop); 925 ev_ref (loop);
853 ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig); 926 ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);
965See also the locking example in the C<THREADS> section later in this 1038See also the locking example in the C<THREADS> section later in this
966document. 1039document.
967 1040
968=item ev_set_userdata (loop, void *data) 1041=item ev_set_userdata (loop, void *data)
969 1042
970=item ev_userdata (loop) 1043=item void *ev_userdata (loop)
971 1044
972Set and retrieve a single C<void *> associated with a loop. When 1045Set and retrieve a single C<void *> associated with a loop. When
973C<ev_set_userdata> has never been called, then C<ev_userdata> returns 1046C<ev_set_userdata> has never been called, then C<ev_userdata> returns
974C<0.> 1047C<0>.
975 1048
976These two functions can be used to associate arbitrary data with a loop, 1049These two functions can be used to associate arbitrary data with a loop,
977and are intended solely for the C<invoke_pending_cb>, C<release> and 1050and are intended solely for the C<invoke_pending_cb>, C<release> and
978C<acquire> callbacks described above, but of course can be (ab-)used for 1051C<acquire> callbacks described above, but of course can be (ab-)used for
979any other purpose as well. 1052any other purpose as well.
1107=item C<EV_FORK> 1180=item C<EV_FORK>
1108 1181
1109The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see 1182The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
1110C<ev_fork>). 1183C<ev_fork>).
1111 1184
1185=item C<EV_CLEANUP>
1186
1187The event loop is about to be destroyed (see C<ev_cleanup>).
1188
1112=item C<EV_ASYNC> 1189=item C<EV_ASYNC>
1113 1190
1114The given async watcher has been asynchronously notified (see C<ev_async>). 1191The given async watcher has been asynchronously notified (see C<ev_async>).
1115 1192
1116=item C<EV_CUSTOM> 1193=item C<EV_CUSTOM>
1137programs, though, as the fd could already be closed and reused for another 1214programs, though, as the fd could already be closed and reused for another
1138thing, so beware. 1215thing, so beware.
1139 1216
1140=back 1217=back
1141 1218
1219=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS
1220
1221=over 4
1222
1223=item C<ev_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
1224
1225This macro initialises the generic portion of a watcher. The contents
1226of the watcher object can be arbitrary (so C<malloc> will do). Only
1227the generic parts of the watcher are initialised, you I<need> to call
1228the type-specific C<ev_TYPE_set> macro afterwards to initialise the
1229type-specific parts. For each type there is also a C<ev_TYPE_init> macro
1230which rolls both calls into one.
1231
1232You can reinitialise a watcher at any time as long as it has been stopped
1233(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.
1234
1235The callback is always of type C<void (*)(struct ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,
1236int revents)>.
1237
1238Example: Initialise an C<ev_io> watcher in two steps.
1239
1240 ev_io w;
1241 ev_init (&w, my_cb);
1242 ev_io_set (&w, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
1243
1244=item C<ev_TYPE_set> (ev_TYPE *watcher, [args])
1245
1246This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to
1247call C<ev_init> at least once before you call this macro, but you can
1248call C<ev_TYPE_set> any number of times. You must not, however, call this
1249macro on a watcher that is active (it can be pending, however, which is a
1250difference to the C<ev_init> macro).
1251
1252Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments
1253(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.
1254
1255See C<ev_init>, above, for an example.
1256
1257=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])
1258
1259This convenience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro
1260calls into a single call. This is the most convenient method to initialise
1261a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.
1262
1263Example: Initialise and set an C<ev_io> watcher in one step.
1264
1265 ev_io_init (&w, my_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
1266
1267=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
1268
1269Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive
1270events. If the watcher is already active nothing will happen.
1271
1272Example: Start the C<ev_io> watcher that is being abused as example in this
1273whole section.
1274
1275 ev_io_start (EV_DEFAULT_UC, &w);
1276
1277=item C<ev_TYPE_stop> (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
1278
1279Stops the given watcher if active, and clears the pending status (whether
1280the watcher was active or not).
1281
1282It is possible that stopped watchers are pending - for example,
1283non-repeating timers are being stopped when they become pending - but
1284calling C<ev_TYPE_stop> ensures that the watcher is neither active nor
1285pending. If you want to free or reuse the memory used by the watcher it is
1286therefore a good idea to always call its C<ev_TYPE_stop> function.
1287
1288=item bool ev_is_active (ev_TYPE *watcher)
1289
1290Returns a true value iff the watcher is active (i.e. it has been started
1291and not yet been stopped). As long as a watcher is active you must not modify
1292it.
1293
1294=item bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)
1295
1296Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding
1297events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher
1298is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but
1299C<ev_TYPE_set> is safe), you must not change its priority, and you must
1300make sure the watcher is available to libev (e.g. you cannot C<free ()>
1301it).
1302
1303=item callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)
1304
1305Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.
1306
1307=item ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
1308
1309Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
1310(modulo threads).
1311
1312=item ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, int priority)
1313
1314=item int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)
1315
1316Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small
1317integer between C<EV_MAXPRI> (default: C<2>) and C<EV_MINPRI>
1318(default: C<-2>). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked
1319before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers
1320from being executed (except for C<ev_idle> watchers).
1321
1322If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending
1323you need to look at C<ev_idle> watchers, which provide this functionality.
1324
1325You I<must not> change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or
1326pending.
1327
1328Setting a priority outside the range of C<EV_MINPRI> to C<EV_MAXPRI> is
1329fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might
1330or might not have been clamped to the valid range.
1331
1332The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
1333always C<0>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).
1334
1335See L<WATCHER PRIORITY MODELS>, below, for a more thorough treatment of
1336priorities.
1337
1338=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
1339
1340Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither
1341C<loop> nor C<revents> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
1342can deal with that fact, as both are simply passed through to the
1343callback.
1344
1345=item int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
1346
1347If the watcher is pending, this function clears its pending status and
1348returns its C<revents> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
1349watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>.
1350
1351Sometimes it can be useful to "poll" a watcher instead of waiting for its
1352callback to be invoked, which can be accomplished with this function.
1353
1354=item ev_feed_event (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
1355
1356Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
1357had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
1358initialised but not necessarily started event watcher). Obviously you must
1359not free the watcher as long as it has pending events.
1360
1361Stopping the watcher, letting libev invoke it, or calling
1362C<ev_clear_pending> will clear the pending event, even if the watcher was
1363not started in the first place.
1364
1365See also C<ev_feed_fd_event> and C<ev_feed_signal_event> for related
1366functions that do not need a watcher.
1367
1368=back
1369
1370See also the L<ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER> and L<BUILDING YOUR
1371OWN COMPOSITE WATCHERS> idioms.
1372
1142=head2 WATCHER STATES 1373=head2 WATCHER STATES
1143 1374
1144There are various watcher states mentioned throughout this manual - 1375There are various watcher states mentioned throughout this manual -
1145active, pending and so on. In this section these states and the rules to 1376active, pending and so on. In this section these states and the rules to
1146transition between them will be described in more detail - and while these 1377transition between them will be described in more detail - and while these
1152 1383
1153Before a watcher can be registered with the event looop it has to be 1384Before a watcher can be registered with the event looop it has to be
1154initialised. This can be done with a call to C<ev_TYPE_init>, or calls to 1385initialised. This can be done with a call to C<ev_TYPE_init>, or calls to
1155C<ev_init> followed by the watcher-specific C<ev_TYPE_set> function. 1386C<ev_init> followed by the watcher-specific C<ev_TYPE_set> function.
1156 1387
1157In this state it is simply some block of memory that is suitable for use 1388In this state it is simply some block of memory that is suitable for
1158in an event loop. It can be moved around, freed, reused etc. at will. 1389use in an event loop. It can be moved around, freed, reused etc. at
1390will - as long as you either keep the memory contents intact, or call
1391C<ev_TYPE_init> again.
1159 1392
1160=item started/running/active 1393=item started/running/active
1161 1394
1162Once a watcher has been started with a call to C<ev_TYPE_start> it becomes 1395Once a watcher has been started with a call to C<ev_TYPE_start> it becomes
1163property of the event loop, and is actively waiting for events. While in 1396property of the event loop, and is actively waiting for events. While in
1191latter will clear any pending state the watcher might be in, regardless 1424latter will clear any pending state the watcher might be in, regardless
1192of whether it was active or not, so stopping a watcher explicitly before 1425of whether it was active or not, so stopping a watcher explicitly before
1193freeing it is often a good idea. 1426freeing it is often a good idea.
1194 1427
1195While stopped (and not pending) the watcher is essentially in the 1428While stopped (and not pending) the watcher is essentially in the
1196initialised state, that is it can be reused, moved, modified in any way 1429initialised state, that is, it can be reused, moved, modified in any way
1197you wish. 1430you wish (but when you trash the memory block, you need to C<ev_TYPE_init>
1431it again).
1198 1432
1199=back 1433=back
1200
1201=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS
1202
1203=over 4
1204
1205=item C<ev_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
1206
1207This macro initialises the generic portion of a watcher. The contents
1208of the watcher object can be arbitrary (so C<malloc> will do). Only
1209the generic parts of the watcher are initialised, you I<need> to call
1210the type-specific C<ev_TYPE_set> macro afterwards to initialise the
1211type-specific parts. For each type there is also a C<ev_TYPE_init> macro
1212which rolls both calls into one.
1213
1214You can reinitialise a watcher at any time as long as it has been stopped
1215(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.
1216
1217The callback is always of type C<void (*)(struct ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,
1218int revents)>.
1219
1220Example: Initialise an C<ev_io> watcher in two steps.
1221
1222 ev_io w;
1223 ev_init (&w, my_cb);
1224 ev_io_set (&w, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
1225
1226=item C<ev_TYPE_set> (ev_TYPE *watcher, [args])
1227
1228This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to
1229call C<ev_init> at least once before you call this macro, but you can
1230call C<ev_TYPE_set> any number of times. You must not, however, call this
1231macro on a watcher that is active (it can be pending, however, which is a
1232difference to the C<ev_init> macro).
1233
1234Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments
1235(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.
1236
1237See C<ev_init>, above, for an example.
1238
1239=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])
1240
1241This convenience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro
1242calls into a single call. This is the most convenient method to initialise
1243a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.
1244
1245Example: Initialise and set an C<ev_io> watcher in one step.
1246
1247 ev_io_init (&w, my_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
1248
1249=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
1250
1251Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive
1252events. If the watcher is already active nothing will happen.
1253
1254Example: Start the C<ev_io> watcher that is being abused as example in this
1255whole section.
1256
1257 ev_io_start (EV_DEFAULT_UC, &w);
1258
1259=item C<ev_TYPE_stop> (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
1260
1261Stops the given watcher if active, and clears the pending status (whether
1262the watcher was active or not).
1263
1264It is possible that stopped watchers are pending - for example,
1265non-repeating timers are being stopped when they become pending - but
1266calling C<ev_TYPE_stop> ensures that the watcher is neither active nor
1267pending. If you want to free or reuse the memory used by the watcher it is
1268therefore a good idea to always call its C<ev_TYPE_stop> function.
1269
1270=item bool ev_is_active (ev_TYPE *watcher)
1271
1272Returns a true value iff the watcher is active (i.e. it has been started
1273and not yet been stopped). As long as a watcher is active you must not modify
1274it.
1275
1276=item bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)
1277
1278Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding
1279events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher
1280is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but
1281C<ev_TYPE_set> is safe), you must not change its priority, and you must
1282make sure the watcher is available to libev (e.g. you cannot C<free ()>
1283it).
1284
1285=item callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)
1286
1287Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.
1288
1289=item ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
1290
1291Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
1292(modulo threads).
1293
1294=item ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, int priority)
1295
1296=item int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)
1297
1298Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small
1299integer between C<EV_MAXPRI> (default: C<2>) and C<EV_MINPRI>
1300(default: C<-2>). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked
1301before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers
1302from being executed (except for C<ev_idle> watchers).
1303
1304If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending
1305you need to look at C<ev_idle> watchers, which provide this functionality.
1306
1307You I<must not> change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or
1308pending.
1309
1310Setting a priority outside the range of C<EV_MINPRI> to C<EV_MAXPRI> is
1311fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might
1312or might not have been clamped to the valid range.
1313
1314The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
1315always C<0>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).
1316
1317See L<WATCHER PRIORITY MODELS>, below, for a more thorough treatment of
1318priorities.
1319
1320=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
1321
1322Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither
1323C<loop> nor C<revents> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
1324can deal with that fact, as both are simply passed through to the
1325callback.
1326
1327=item int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
1328
1329If the watcher is pending, this function clears its pending status and
1330returns its C<revents> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
1331watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>.
1332
1333Sometimes it can be useful to "poll" a watcher instead of waiting for its
1334callback to be invoked, which can be accomplished with this function.
1335
1336=item ev_feed_event (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
1337
1338Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
1339had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
1340initialised but not necessarily started event watcher). Obviously you must
1341not free the watcher as long as it has pending events.
1342
1343Stopping the watcher, letting libev invoke it, or calling
1344C<ev_clear_pending> will clear the pending event, even if the watcher was
1345not started in the first place.
1346
1347See also C<ev_feed_fd_event> and C<ev_feed_signal_event> for related
1348functions that do not need a watcher.
1349
1350=back
1351
1352
1353=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER
1354
1355Each watcher has, by default, a member C<void *data> that you can change
1356and read at any time: libev will completely ignore it. This can be used
1357to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
1358don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data
1359member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own
1360data:
1361
1362 struct my_io
1363 {
1364 ev_io io;
1365 int otherfd;
1366 void *somedata;
1367 struct whatever *mostinteresting;
1368 };
1369
1370 ...
1371 struct my_io w;
1372 ev_io_init (&w.io, my_cb, fd, EV_READ);
1373
1374And since your callback will be called with a pointer to the watcher, you
1375can cast it back to your own type:
1376
1377 static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w_, int revents)
1378 {
1379 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
1380 ...
1381 }
1382
1383More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type
1384instead have been omitted.
1385
1386Another common scenario is to use some data structure with multiple
1387embedded watchers:
1388
1389 struct my_biggy
1390 {
1391 int some_data;
1392 ev_timer t1;
1393 ev_timer t2;
1394 }
1395
1396In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more
1397complicated: Either you store the address of your C<my_biggy> struct
1398in the C<data> member of the watcher (for woozies), or you need to use
1399some pointer arithmetic using C<offsetof> inside your watchers (for real
1400programmers):
1401
1402 #include <stddef.h>
1403
1404 static void
1405 t1_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1406 {
1407 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *)
1408 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
1409 }
1410
1411 static void
1412 t2_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1413 {
1414 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *)
1415 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
1416 }
1417 1434
1418=head2 WATCHER PRIORITY MODELS 1435=head2 WATCHER PRIORITY MODELS
1419 1436
1420Many event loops support I<watcher priorities>, which are usually small 1437Many event loops support I<watcher priorities>, which are usually small
1421integers that influence the ordering of event callback invocation 1438integers that influence the ordering of event callback invocation
1548In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per 1565In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per
1549fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file 1566fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file
1550descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not 1567descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
1551required if you know what you are doing). 1568required if you know what you are doing).
1552 1569
1553If you cannot use non-blocking mode, then force the use of a
1554known-to-be-good backend (at the time of this writing, this includes only
1555C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and C<EVBACKEND_POLL>). The same applies to file
1556descriptors for which non-blocking operation makes no sense (such as
1557files) - libev doesn't guarantee any specific behaviour in that case.
1558
1559Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to 1570Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
1560receive "spurious" readiness notifications, that is your callback might 1571receive "spurious" readiness notifications, that is, your callback might
1561be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block 1572be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block
1562because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a 1573because there is no data. It is very easy to get into this situation even
1563lot of those (for example Solaris ports), it is very easy to get into 1574with a relatively standard program structure. Thus it is best to always
1564this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus 1575use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning C<EAGAIN> is far
1565it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning
1566C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives. 1576preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.
1567 1577
1568If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should 1578If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should
1569not play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to separately 1579not play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to separately
1570re-test whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good 1580re-test whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good
1571interface such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already 1581interface such as poll (fortunately in the case of Xlib, it already does
1572does this on its own, so its quite safe to use). Some people additionally 1582this on its own, so its quite safe to use). Some people additionally
1573use C<SIGALRM> and an interval timer, just to be sure you won't block 1583use C<SIGALRM> and an interval timer, just to be sure you won't block
1574indefinitely. 1584indefinitely.
1575 1585
1576But really, best use non-blocking mode. 1586But really, best use non-blocking mode.
1577 1587
1605 1615
1606There is no workaround possible except not registering events 1616There is no workaround possible except not registering events
1607for potentially C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors, or to resort to 1617for potentially C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors, or to resort to
1608C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>. 1618C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1609 1619
1620=head3 The special problem of files
1621
1622Many people try to use C<select> (or libev) on file descriptors
1623representing files, and expect it to become ready when their program
1624doesn't block on disk accesses (which can take a long time on their own).
1625
1626However, this cannot ever work in the "expected" way - you get a readiness
1627notification as soon as the kernel knows whether and how much data is
1628there, and in the case of open files, that's always the case, so you
1629always get a readiness notification instantly, and your read (or possibly
1630write) will still block on the disk I/O.
1631
1632Another way to view it is that in the case of sockets, pipes, character
1633devices and so on, there is another party (the sender) that delivers data
1634on its own, but in the case of files, there is no such thing: the disk
1635will not send data on its own, simply because it doesn't know what you
1636wish to read - you would first have to request some data.
1637
1638Since files are typically not-so-well supported by advanced notification
1639mechanism, libev tries hard to emulate POSIX behaviour with respect
1640to files, even though you should not use it. The reason for this is
1641convenience: sometimes you want to watch STDIN or STDOUT, which is
1642usually a tty, often a pipe, but also sometimes files or special devices
1643(for example, C<epoll> on Linux works with F</dev/random> but not with
1644F</dev/urandom>), and even though the file might better be served with
1645asynchronous I/O instead of with non-blocking I/O, it is still useful when
1646it "just works" instead of freezing.
1647
1648So avoid file descriptors pointing to files when you know it (e.g. use
1649libeio), but use them when it is convenient, e.g. for STDIN/STDOUT, or
1650when you rarely read from a file instead of from a socket, and want to
1651reuse the same code path.
1652
1610=head3 The special problem of fork 1653=head3 The special problem of fork
1611 1654
1612Some backends (epoll, kqueue) do not support C<fork ()> at all or exhibit 1655Some backends (epoll, kqueue) do not support C<fork ()> at all or exhibit
1613useless behaviour. Libev fully supports fork, but needs to be told about 1656useless behaviour. Libev fully supports fork, but needs to be told about
1614it in the child. 1657it in the child if you want to continue to use it in the child.
1615 1658
1616To support fork in your programs, you either have to call 1659To support fork in your child processes, you have to call C<ev_loop_fork
1617C<ev_default_fork ()> or C<ev_loop_fork ()> after a fork in the child, 1660()> after a fork in the child, enable C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>, or resort to
1618enable C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>, or resort to C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or 1661C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1619C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1620 1662
1621=head3 The special problem of SIGPIPE 1663=head3 The special problem of SIGPIPE
1622 1664
1623While not really specific to libev, it is easy to forget about C<SIGPIPE>: 1665While not really specific to libev, it is easy to forget about C<SIGPIPE>:
1624when writing to a pipe whose other end has been closed, your program gets 1666when writing to a pipe whose other end has been closed, your program gets
2114 2156
2115Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that 2157Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
2116C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible 2158C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
2117time where C<time = offset (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps. 2159time where C<time = offset (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.
2118 2160
2119For numerical stability it is preferable that the C<offset> value is near 2161The C<interval> I<MUST> be positive, and for numerical stability, the
2120C<ev_now ()> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for 2162interval value should be higher than C<1/8192> (which is around 100
2121this value, and in fact is often specified as zero. 2163microseconds) and C<offset> should be higher than C<0> and should have
2164at most a similar magnitude as the current time (say, within a factor of
2165ten). Typical values for offset are, in fact, C<0> or something between
2166C<0> and C<interval>, which is also the recommended range.
2122 2167
2123Note also that there is an upper limit to how often a timer can fire (CPU 2168Note also that there is an upper limit to how often a timer can fire (CPU
2124speed for example), so if C<interval> is very small then timing stability 2169speed for example), so if C<interval> is very small then timing stability
2125will of course deteriorate. Libev itself tries to be exact to be about one 2170will of course deteriorate. Libev itself tries to be exact to be about one
2126millisecond (if the OS supports it and the machine is fast enough). 2171millisecond (if the OS supports it and the machine is fast enough).
2240 2285
2241=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled! 2286=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!
2242 2287
2243Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific 2288Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
2244signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev 2289signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev
2245will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the 2290will try its best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the
2246normal event processing, like any other event. 2291normal event processing, like any other event.
2247 2292
2248If you want signals to be delivered truly asynchronously, just use 2293If you want signals to be delivered truly asynchronously, just use
2249C<sigaction> as you would do without libev and forget about sharing 2294C<sigaction> as you would do without libev and forget about sharing
2250the signal. You can even use C<ev_async> from a signal handler to 2295the signal. You can even use C<ev_async> from a signal handler to
2269=head3 The special problem of inheritance over fork/execve/pthread_create 2314=head3 The special problem of inheritance over fork/execve/pthread_create
2270 2315
2271Both the signal mask (C<sigprocmask>) and the signal disposition 2316Both the signal mask (C<sigprocmask>) and the signal disposition
2272(C<sigaction>) are unspecified after starting a signal watcher (and after 2317(C<sigaction>) are unspecified after starting a signal watcher (and after
2273stopping it again), that is, libev might or might not block the signal, 2318stopping it again), that is, libev might or might not block the signal,
2274and might or might not set or restore the installed signal handler. 2319and might or might not set or restore the installed signal handler (but
2320see C<EVFLAG_NOSIGMASK>).
2275 2321
2276While this does not matter for the signal disposition (libev never 2322While this does not matter for the signal disposition (libev never
2277sets signals to C<SIG_IGN>, so handlers will be reset to C<SIG_DFL> on 2323sets signals to C<SIG_IGN>, so handlers will be reset to C<SIG_DFL> on
2278C<execve>), this matters for the signal mask: many programs do not expect 2324C<execve>), this matters for the signal mask: many programs do not expect
2279certain signals to be blocked. 2325certain signals to be blocked.
2292I<has> to modify the signal mask, at least temporarily. 2338I<has> to modify the signal mask, at least temporarily.
2293 2339
2294So I can't stress this enough: I<If you do not reset your signal mask when 2340So I can't stress this enough: I<If you do not reset your signal mask when
2295you expect it to be empty, you have a race condition in your code>. This 2341you expect it to be empty, you have a race condition in your code>. This
2296is not a libev-specific thing, this is true for most event libraries. 2342is not a libev-specific thing, this is true for most event libraries.
2343
2344=head3 The special problem of threads signal handling
2345
2346POSIX threads has problematic signal handling semantics, specifically,
2347a lot of functionality (sigfd, sigwait etc.) only really works if all
2348threads in a process block signals, which is hard to achieve.
2349
2350When you want to use sigwait (or mix libev signal handling with your own
2351for the same signals), you can tackle this problem by globally blocking
2352all signals before creating any threads (or creating them with a fully set
2353sigprocmask) and also specifying the C<EVFLAG_NOSIGMASK> when creating
2354loops. Then designate one thread as "signal receiver thread" which handles
2355these signals. You can pass on any signals that libev might be interested
2356in by calling C<ev_feed_signal>.
2297 2357
2298=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members 2358=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2299 2359
2300=over 4 2360=over 4
2301 2361
3075disadvantage of having to use multiple event loops (which do not support 3135disadvantage of having to use multiple event loops (which do not support
3076signal watchers). 3136signal watchers).
3077 3137
3078When this is not possible, or you want to use the default loop for 3138When this is not possible, or you want to use the default loop for
3079other reasons, then in the process that wants to start "fresh", call 3139other reasons, then in the process that wants to start "fresh", call
3080C<ev_default_destroy ()> followed by C<ev_default_loop (...)>. Destroying 3140C<ev_loop_destroy (EV_DEFAULT)> followed by C<ev_default_loop (...)>.
3081the default loop will "orphan" (not stop) all registered watchers, so you 3141Destroying the default loop will "orphan" (not stop) all registered
3082have to be careful not to execute code that modifies those watchers. Note 3142watchers, so you have to be careful not to execute code that modifies
3083also that in that case, you have to re-register any signal watchers. 3143those watchers. Note also that in that case, you have to re-register any
3144signal watchers.
3084 3145
3085=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members 3146=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
3086 3147
3087=over 4 3148=over 4
3088 3149
3089=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback) 3150=item ev_fork_init (ev_fork *, callback)
3090 3151
3091Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any 3152Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
3092kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless, 3153kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
3093believe me. 3154really.
3094 3155
3095=back 3156=back
3096 3157
3097 3158
3159=head2 C<ev_cleanup> - even the best things end
3160
3161Cleanup watchers are called just before the event loop is being destroyed
3162by a call to C<ev_loop_destroy>.
3163
3164While there is no guarantee that the event loop gets destroyed, cleanup
3165watchers provide a convenient method to install cleanup hooks for your
3166program, worker threads and so on - you just to make sure to destroy the
3167loop when you want them to be invoked.
3168
3169Cleanup watchers are invoked in the same way as any other watcher. Unlike
3170all other watchers, they do not keep a reference to the event loop (which
3171makes a lot of sense if you think about it). Like all other watchers, you
3172can call libev functions in the callback, except C<ev_cleanup_start>.
3173
3174=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
3175
3176=over 4
3177
3178=item ev_cleanup_init (ev_cleanup *, callback)
3179
3180Initialises and configures the cleanup watcher - it has no parameters of
3181any kind. There is a C<ev_cleanup_set> macro, but using it is utterly
3182pointless, I assure you.
3183
3184=back
3185
3186Example: Register an atexit handler to destroy the default loop, so any
3187cleanup functions are called.
3188
3189 static void
3190 program_exits (void)
3191 {
3192 ev_loop_destroy (EV_DEFAULT_UC);
3193 }
3194
3195 ...
3196 atexit (program_exits);
3197
3198
3098=head2 C<ev_async> - how to wake up an event loop 3199=head2 C<ev_async> - how to wake up an event loop
3099 3200
3100In general, you cannot use an C<ev_run> from multiple threads or other 3201In general, you cannot use an C<ev_loop> from multiple threads or other
3101asynchronous sources such as signal handlers (as opposed to multiple event 3202asynchronous sources such as signal handlers (as opposed to multiple event
3102loops - those are of course safe to use in different threads). 3203loops - those are of course safe to use in different threads).
3103 3204
3104Sometimes, however, you need to wake up an event loop you do not control, 3205Sometimes, however, you need to wake up an event loop you do not control,
3105for example because it belongs to another thread. This is what C<ev_async> 3206for example because it belongs to another thread. This is what C<ev_async>
3107it by calling C<ev_async_send>, which is thread- and signal safe. 3208it by calling C<ev_async_send>, which is thread- and signal safe.
3108 3209
3109This functionality is very similar to C<ev_signal> watchers, as signals, 3210This functionality is very similar to C<ev_signal> watchers, as signals,
3110too, are asynchronous in nature, and signals, too, will be compressed 3211too, are asynchronous in nature, and signals, too, will be compressed
3111(i.e. the number of callback invocations may be less than the number of 3212(i.e. the number of callback invocations may be less than the number of
3112C<ev_async_sent> calls). 3213C<ev_async_sent> calls). In fact, you could use signal watchers as a kind
3214of "global async watchers" by using a watcher on an otherwise unused
3215signal, and C<ev_feed_signal> to signal this watcher from another thread,
3216even without knowing which loop owns the signal.
3113 3217
3114Unlike C<ev_signal> watchers, C<ev_async> works with any event loop, not 3218Unlike C<ev_signal> watchers, C<ev_async> works with any event loop, not
3115just the default loop. 3219just the default loop.
3116 3220
3117=head3 Queueing 3221=head3 Queueing
3212trust me. 3316trust me.
3213 3317
3214=item ev_async_send (loop, ev_async *) 3318=item ev_async_send (loop, ev_async *)
3215 3319
3216Sends/signals/activates the given C<ev_async> watcher, that is, feeds 3320Sends/signals/activates the given C<ev_async> watcher, that is, feeds
3217an C<EV_ASYNC> event on the watcher into the event loop. Unlike 3321an C<EV_ASYNC> event on the watcher into the event loop, and instantly
3322returns.
3323
3218C<ev_feed_event>, this call is safe to do from other threads, signal or 3324Unlike C<ev_feed_event>, this call is safe to do from other threads,
3219similar contexts (see the discussion of C<EV_ATOMIC_T> in the embedding 3325signal or similar contexts (see the discussion of C<EV_ATOMIC_T> in the
3220section below on what exactly this means). 3326embedding section below on what exactly this means).
3221 3327
3222Note that, as with other watchers in libev, multiple events might get 3328Note that, as with other watchers in libev, multiple events might get
3223compressed into a single callback invocation (another way to look at this 3329compressed into a single callback invocation (another way to look at this
3224is that C<ev_async> watchers are level-triggered, set on C<ev_async_send>, 3330is that C<ev_async> watchers are level-triggered, set on C<ev_async_send>,
3225reset when the event loop detects that). 3331reset when the event loop detects that).
3293Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected 3399Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
3294the given events it. 3400the given events it.
3295 3401
3296=item ev_feed_signal_event (loop, int signum) 3402=item ev_feed_signal_event (loop, int signum)
3297 3403
3298Feed an event as if the given signal occurred (C<loop> must be the default 3404Feed an event as if the given signal occurred. See also C<ev_feed_signal>,
3299loop!). 3405which is async-safe.
3300 3406
3301=back 3407=back
3408
3409
3410=head1 COMMON OR USEFUL IDIOMS (OR BOTH)
3411
3412This section explains some common idioms that are not immediately
3413obvious. Note that examples are sprinkled over the whole manual, and this
3414section only contains stuff that wouldn't fit anywhere else.
3415
3416=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER
3417
3418Each watcher has, by default, a C<void *data> member that you can read
3419or modify at any time: libev will completely ignore it. This can be used
3420to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
3421don't want to allocate memory separately and store a pointer to it in that
3422data member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own
3423data:
3424
3425 struct my_io
3426 {
3427 ev_io io;
3428 int otherfd;
3429 void *somedata;
3430 struct whatever *mostinteresting;
3431 };
3432
3433 ...
3434 struct my_io w;
3435 ev_io_init (&w.io, my_cb, fd, EV_READ);
3436
3437And since your callback will be called with a pointer to the watcher, you
3438can cast it back to your own type:
3439
3440 static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w_, int revents)
3441 {
3442 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
3443 ...
3444 }
3445
3446More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback
3447function type instead have been omitted.
3448
3449=head2 BUILDING YOUR OWN COMPOSITE WATCHERS
3450
3451Another common scenario is to use some data structure with multiple
3452embedded watchers, in effect creating your own watcher that combines
3453multiple libev event sources into one "super-watcher":
3454
3455 struct my_biggy
3456 {
3457 int some_data;
3458 ev_timer t1;
3459 ev_timer t2;
3460 }
3461
3462In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more
3463complicated: Either you store the address of your C<my_biggy> struct in
3464the C<data> member of the watcher (for woozies or C++ coders), or you need
3465to use some pointer arithmetic using C<offsetof> inside your watchers (for
3466real programmers):
3467
3468 #include <stddef.h>
3469
3470 static void
3471 t1_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
3472 {
3473 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *)
3474 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
3475 }
3476
3477 static void
3478 t2_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
3479 {
3480 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *)
3481 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
3482 }
3483
3484=head2 MODEL/NESTED EVENT LOOP INVOCATIONS AND EXIT CONDITIONS
3485
3486Often (especially in GUI toolkits) there are places where you have
3487I<modal> interaction, which is most easily implemented by recursively
3488invoking C<ev_run>.
3489
3490This brings the problem of exiting - a callback might want to finish the
3491main C<ev_run> call, but not the nested one (e.g. user clicked "Quit", but
3492a modal "Are you sure?" dialog is still waiting), or just the nested one
3493and not the main one (e.g. user clocked "Ok" in a modal dialog), or some
3494other combination: In these cases, C<ev_break> will not work alone.
3495
3496The solution is to maintain "break this loop" variable for each C<ev_run>
3497invocation, and use a loop around C<ev_run> until the condition is
3498triggered, using C<EVRUN_ONCE>:
3499
3500 // main loop
3501 int exit_main_loop = 0;
3502
3503 while (!exit_main_loop)
3504 ev_run (EV_DEFAULT_ EVRUN_ONCE);
3505
3506 // in a model watcher
3507 int exit_nested_loop = 0;
3508
3509 while (!exit_nested_loop)
3510 ev_run (EV_A_ EVRUN_ONCE);
3511
3512To exit from any of these loops, just set the corresponding exit variable:
3513
3514 // exit modal loop
3515 exit_nested_loop = 1;
3516
3517 // exit main program, after modal loop is finished
3518 exit_main_loop = 1;
3519
3520 // exit both
3521 exit_main_loop = exit_nested_loop = 1;
3522
3523=head2 THREAD LOCKING EXAMPLE
3524
3525Here is a fictitious example of how to run an event loop in a different
3526thread from where callbacks are being invoked and watchers are
3527created/added/removed.
3528
3529For a real-world example, see the C<EV::Loop::Async> perl module,
3530which uses exactly this technique (which is suited for many high-level
3531languages).
3532
3533The example uses a pthread mutex to protect the loop data, a condition
3534variable to wait for callback invocations, an async watcher to notify the
3535event loop thread and an unspecified mechanism to wake up the main thread.
3536
3537First, you need to associate some data with the event loop:
3538
3539 typedef struct {
3540 mutex_t lock; /* global loop lock */
3541 ev_async async_w;
3542 thread_t tid;
3543 cond_t invoke_cv;
3544 } userdata;
3545
3546 void prepare_loop (EV_P)
3547 {
3548 // for simplicity, we use a static userdata struct.
3549 static userdata u;
3550
3551 ev_async_init (&u->async_w, async_cb);
3552 ev_async_start (EV_A_ &u->async_w);
3553
3554 pthread_mutex_init (&u->lock, 0);
3555 pthread_cond_init (&u->invoke_cv, 0);
3556
3557 // now associate this with the loop
3558 ev_set_userdata (EV_A_ u);
3559 ev_set_invoke_pending_cb (EV_A_ l_invoke);
3560 ev_set_loop_release_cb (EV_A_ l_release, l_acquire);
3561
3562 // then create the thread running ev_run
3563 pthread_create (&u->tid, 0, l_run, EV_A);
3564 }
3565
3566The callback for the C<ev_async> watcher does nothing: the watcher is used
3567solely to wake up the event loop so it takes notice of any new watchers
3568that might have been added:
3569
3570 static void
3571 async_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
3572 {
3573 // just used for the side effects
3574 }
3575
3576The C<l_release> and C<l_acquire> callbacks simply unlock/lock the mutex
3577protecting the loop data, respectively.
3578
3579 static void
3580 l_release (EV_P)
3581 {
3582 userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
3583 pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
3584 }
3585
3586 static void
3587 l_acquire (EV_P)
3588 {
3589 userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
3590 pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
3591 }
3592
3593The event loop thread first acquires the mutex, and then jumps straight
3594into C<ev_run>:
3595
3596 void *
3597 l_run (void *thr_arg)
3598 {
3599 struct ev_loop *loop = (struct ev_loop *)thr_arg;
3600
3601 l_acquire (EV_A);
3602 pthread_setcanceltype (PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS, 0);
3603 ev_run (EV_A_ 0);
3604 l_release (EV_A);
3605
3606 return 0;
3607 }
3608
3609Instead of invoking all pending watchers, the C<l_invoke> callback will
3610signal the main thread via some unspecified mechanism (signals? pipe
3611writes? C<Async::Interrupt>?) and then waits until all pending watchers
3612have been called (in a while loop because a) spurious wakeups are possible
3613and b) skipping inter-thread-communication when there are no pending
3614watchers is very beneficial):
3615
3616 static void
3617 l_invoke (EV_P)
3618 {
3619 userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
3620
3621 while (ev_pending_count (EV_A))
3622 {
3623 wake_up_other_thread_in_some_magic_or_not_so_magic_way ();
3624 pthread_cond_wait (&u->invoke_cv, &u->lock);
3625 }
3626 }
3627
3628Now, whenever the main thread gets told to invoke pending watchers, it
3629will grab the lock, call C<ev_invoke_pending> and then signal the loop
3630thread to continue:
3631
3632 static void
3633 real_invoke_pending (EV_P)
3634 {
3635 userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
3636
3637 pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
3638 ev_invoke_pending (EV_A);
3639 pthread_cond_signal (&u->invoke_cv);
3640 pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
3641 }
3642
3643Whenever you want to start/stop a watcher or do other modifications to an
3644event loop, you will now have to lock:
3645
3646 ev_timer timeout_watcher;
3647 userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
3648
3649 ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
3650
3651 pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
3652 ev_timer_start (EV_A_ &timeout_watcher);
3653 ev_async_send (EV_A_ &u->async_w);
3654 pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
3655
3656Note that sending the C<ev_async> watcher is required because otherwise
3657an event loop currently blocking in the kernel will have no knowledge
3658about the newly added timer. By waking up the loop it will pick up any new
3659watchers in the next event loop iteration.
3660
3661=head2 THREADS, COROUTINES, CONTINUATIONS, QUEUES... INSTEAD OF CALLBACKS
3662
3663While the overhead of a callback that e.g. schedules a thread is small, it
3664is still an overhead. If you embed libev, and your main usage is with some
3665kind of threads or coroutines, you might want to customise libev so that
3666doesn't need callbacks anymore.
3667
3668Imagine you have coroutines that you can switch to using a function
3669C<switch_to (coro)>, that libev runs in a coroutine called C<libev_coro>
3670and that due to some magic, the currently active coroutine is stored in a
3671global called C<current_coro>. Then you can build your own "wait for libev
3672event" primitive by changing C<EV_CB_DECLARE> and C<EV_CB_INVOKE> (note
3673the differing C<;> conventions):
3674
3675 #define EV_CB_DECLARE(type) struct my_coro *cb;
3676 #define EV_CB_INVOKE(watcher) switch_to ((watcher)->cb)
3677
3678That means instead of having a C callback function, you store the
3679coroutine to switch to in each watcher, and instead of having libev call
3680your callback, you instead have it switch to that coroutine.
3681
3682A coroutine might now wait for an event with a function called
3683C<wait_for_event>. (the watcher needs to be started, as always, but it doesn't
3684matter when, or whether the watcher is active or not when this function is
3685called):
3686
3687 void
3688 wait_for_event (ev_watcher *w)
3689 {
3690 ev_cb_set (w) = current_coro;
3691 switch_to (libev_coro);
3692 }
3693
3694That basically suspends the coroutine inside C<wait_for_event> and
3695continues the libev coroutine, which, when appropriate, switches back to
3696this or any other coroutine. I am sure if you sue this your own :)
3697
3698You can do similar tricks if you have, say, threads with an event queue -
3699instead of storing a coroutine, you store the queue object and instead of
3700switching to a coroutine, you push the watcher onto the queue and notify
3701any waiters.
3702
3703To embed libev, see L<EMBEDDING>, but in short, it's easiest to create two
3704files, F<my_ev.h> and F<my_ev.c> that include the respective libev files:
3705
3706 // my_ev.h
3707 #define EV_CB_DECLARE(type) struct my_coro *cb;
3708 #define EV_CB_INVOKE(watcher) switch_to ((watcher)->cb);
3709 #include "../libev/ev.h"
3710
3711 // my_ev.c
3712 #define EV_H "my_ev.h"
3713 #include "../libev/ev.c"
3714
3715And then use F<my_ev.h> when you would normally use F<ev.h>, and compile
3716F<my_ev.c> into your project. When properly specifying include paths, you
3717can even use F<ev.h> as header file name directly.
3302 3718
3303 3719
3304=head1 LIBEVENT EMULATION 3720=head1 LIBEVENT EMULATION
3305 3721
3306Libev offers a compatibility emulation layer for libevent. It cannot 3722Libev offers a compatibility emulation layer for libevent. It cannot
3307emulate the internals of libevent, so here are some usage hints: 3723emulate the internals of libevent, so here are some usage hints:
3308 3724
3309=over 4 3725=over 4
3726
3727=item * Only the libevent-1.4.1-beta API is being emulated.
3728
3729This was the newest libevent version available when libev was implemented,
3730and is still mostly unchanged in 2010.
3310 3731
3311=item * Use it by including <event.h>, as usual. 3732=item * Use it by including <event.h>, as usual.
3312 3733
3313=item * The following members are fully supported: ev_base, ev_callback, 3734=item * The following members are fully supported: ev_base, ev_callback,
3314ev_arg, ev_fd, ev_res, ev_events. 3735ev_arg, ev_fd, ev_res, ev_events.
3320=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities 3741=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities
3321will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there 3742will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there
3322is an ev_pri field. 3743is an ev_pri field.
3323 3744
3324=item * In libevent, the last base created gets the signals, in libev, the 3745=item * In libevent, the last base created gets the signals, in libev, the
3325first base created (== the default loop) gets the signals. 3746base that registered the signal gets the signals.
3326 3747
3327=item * Other members are not supported. 3748=item * Other members are not supported.
3328 3749
3329=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need 3750=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
3330to use the libev header file and library. 3751to use the libev header file and library.
3349Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the C++ 3770Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the C++
3350classes add (compared to plain C-style watchers) is the event loop pointer 3771classes add (compared to plain C-style watchers) is the event loop pointer
3351that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if 3772that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if
3352you disable C<EV_MULTIPLICITY> when embedding libev). 3773you disable C<EV_MULTIPLICITY> when embedding libev).
3353 3774
3354Currently, functions, and static and non-static member functions can be 3775Currently, functions, static and non-static member functions and classes
3355used as callbacks. Other types should be easy to add as long as they only 3776with C<operator ()> can be used as callbacks. Other types should be easy
3356need one additional pointer for context. If you need support for other 3777to add as long as they only need one additional pointer for context. If
3357types of functors please contact the author (preferably after implementing 3778you need support for other types of functors please contact the author
3358it). 3779(preferably after implementing it).
3359 3780
3360Here is a list of things available in the C<ev> namespace: 3781Here is a list of things available in the C<ev> namespace:
3361 3782
3362=over 4 3783=over 4
3363 3784
3791F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone. 4212F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.
3792 4213
3793In standalone mode, libev will still try to automatically deduce the 4214In standalone mode, libev will still try to automatically deduce the
3794configuration, but has to be more conservative. 4215configuration, but has to be more conservative.
3795 4216
4217=item EV_USE_FLOOR
4218
4219If defined to be C<1>, libev will use the C<floor ()> function for its
4220periodic reschedule calculations, otherwise libev will fall back on a
4221portable (slower) implementation. If you enable this, you usually have to
4222link against libm or something equivalent. Enabling this when the C<floor>
4223function is not available will fail, so the safe default is to not enable
4224this.
4225
3796=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC 4226=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC
3797 4227
3798If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the 4228If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
3799monotonic clock option at both compile time and runtime. Otherwise no 4229monotonic clock option at both compile time and runtime. Otherwise no
3800use of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, 4230use of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this,
4231And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled: 4661And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:
4232 4662
4233 #include "ev_cpp.h" 4663 #include "ev_cpp.h"
4234 #include "ev.c" 4664 #include "ev.c"
4235 4665
4236=head1 INTERACTION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS OR LIBRARIES 4666=head1 INTERACTION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS, LIBRARIES OR THE ENVIRONMENT
4237 4667
4238=head2 THREADS AND COROUTINES 4668=head2 THREADS AND COROUTINES
4239 4669
4240=head3 THREADS 4670=head3 THREADS
4241 4671
4292default loop and triggering an C<ev_async> watcher from the default loop 4722default loop and triggering an C<ev_async> watcher from the default loop
4293watcher callback into the event loop interested in the signal. 4723watcher callback into the event loop interested in the signal.
4294 4724
4295=back 4725=back
4296 4726
4297=head4 THREAD LOCKING EXAMPLE 4727See also L<THREAD LOCKING EXAMPLE>.
4298
4299Here is a fictitious example of how to run an event loop in a different
4300thread than where callbacks are being invoked and watchers are
4301created/added/removed.
4302
4303For a real-world example, see the C<EV::Loop::Async> perl module,
4304which uses exactly this technique (which is suited for many high-level
4305languages).
4306
4307The example uses a pthread mutex to protect the loop data, a condition
4308variable to wait for callback invocations, an async watcher to notify the
4309event loop thread and an unspecified mechanism to wake up the main thread.
4310
4311First, you need to associate some data with the event loop:
4312
4313 typedef struct {
4314 mutex_t lock; /* global loop lock */
4315 ev_async async_w;
4316 thread_t tid;
4317 cond_t invoke_cv;
4318 } userdata;
4319
4320 void prepare_loop (EV_P)
4321 {
4322 // for simplicity, we use a static userdata struct.
4323 static userdata u;
4324
4325 ev_async_init (&u->async_w, async_cb);
4326 ev_async_start (EV_A_ &u->async_w);
4327
4328 pthread_mutex_init (&u->lock, 0);
4329 pthread_cond_init (&u->invoke_cv, 0);
4330
4331 // now associate this with the loop
4332 ev_set_userdata (EV_A_ u);
4333 ev_set_invoke_pending_cb (EV_A_ l_invoke);
4334 ev_set_loop_release_cb (EV_A_ l_release, l_acquire);
4335
4336 // then create the thread running ev_loop
4337 pthread_create (&u->tid, 0, l_run, EV_A);
4338 }
4339
4340The callback for the C<ev_async> watcher does nothing: the watcher is used
4341solely to wake up the event loop so it takes notice of any new watchers
4342that might have been added:
4343
4344 static void
4345 async_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
4346 {
4347 // just used for the side effects
4348 }
4349
4350The C<l_release> and C<l_acquire> callbacks simply unlock/lock the mutex
4351protecting the loop data, respectively.
4352
4353 static void
4354 l_release (EV_P)
4355 {
4356 userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
4357 pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
4358 }
4359
4360 static void
4361 l_acquire (EV_P)
4362 {
4363 userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
4364 pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
4365 }
4366
4367The event loop thread first acquires the mutex, and then jumps straight
4368into C<ev_run>:
4369
4370 void *
4371 l_run (void *thr_arg)
4372 {
4373 struct ev_loop *loop = (struct ev_loop *)thr_arg;
4374
4375 l_acquire (EV_A);
4376 pthread_setcanceltype (PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS, 0);
4377 ev_run (EV_A_ 0);
4378 l_release (EV_A);
4379
4380 return 0;
4381 }
4382
4383Instead of invoking all pending watchers, the C<l_invoke> callback will
4384signal the main thread via some unspecified mechanism (signals? pipe
4385writes? C<Async::Interrupt>?) and then waits until all pending watchers
4386have been called (in a while loop because a) spurious wakeups are possible
4387and b) skipping inter-thread-communication when there are no pending
4388watchers is very beneficial):
4389
4390 static void
4391 l_invoke (EV_P)
4392 {
4393 userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
4394
4395 while (ev_pending_count (EV_A))
4396 {
4397 wake_up_other_thread_in_some_magic_or_not_so_magic_way ();
4398 pthread_cond_wait (&u->invoke_cv, &u->lock);
4399 }
4400 }
4401
4402Now, whenever the main thread gets told to invoke pending watchers, it
4403will grab the lock, call C<ev_invoke_pending> and then signal the loop
4404thread to continue:
4405
4406 static void
4407 real_invoke_pending (EV_P)
4408 {
4409 userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
4410
4411 pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
4412 ev_invoke_pending (EV_A);
4413 pthread_cond_signal (&u->invoke_cv);
4414 pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
4415 }
4416
4417Whenever you want to start/stop a watcher or do other modifications to an
4418event loop, you will now have to lock:
4419
4420 ev_timer timeout_watcher;
4421 userdata *u = ev_userdata (EV_A);
4422
4423 ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
4424
4425 pthread_mutex_lock (&u->lock);
4426 ev_timer_start (EV_A_ &timeout_watcher);
4427 ev_async_send (EV_A_ &u->async_w);
4428 pthread_mutex_unlock (&u->lock);
4429
4430Note that sending the C<ev_async> watcher is required because otherwise
4431an event loop currently blocking in the kernel will have no knowledge
4432about the newly added timer. By waking up the loop it will pick up any new
4433watchers in the next event loop iteration.
4434 4728
4435=head3 COROUTINES 4729=head3 COROUTINES
4436 4730
4437Libev is very accommodating to coroutines ("cooperative threads"): 4731Libev is very accommodating to coroutines ("cooperative threads"):
4438libev fully supports nesting calls to its functions from different 4732libev fully supports nesting calls to its functions from different
4707structure (guaranteed by POSIX but not by ISO C for example), but it also 5001structure (guaranteed by POSIX but not by ISO C for example), but it also
4708assumes that the same (machine) code can be used to call any watcher 5002assumes that the same (machine) code can be used to call any watcher
4709callback: The watcher callbacks have different type signatures, but libev 5003callback: The watcher callbacks have different type signatures, but libev
4710calls them using an C<ev_watcher *> internally. 5004calls them using an C<ev_watcher *> internally.
4711 5005
5006=item pointer accesses must be thread-atomic
5007
5008Accessing a pointer value must be atomic, it must both be readable and
5009writable in one piece - this is the case on all current architectures.
5010
4712=item C<sig_atomic_t volatile> must be thread-atomic as well 5011=item C<sig_atomic_t volatile> must be thread-atomic as well
4713 5012
4714The type C<sig_atomic_t volatile> (or whatever is defined as 5013The type C<sig_atomic_t volatile> (or whatever is defined as
4715C<EV_ATOMIC_T>) must be atomic with respect to accesses from different 5014C<EV_ATOMIC_T>) must be atomic with respect to accesses from different
4716threads. This is not part of the specification for C<sig_atomic_t>, but is 5015threads. This is not part of the specification for C<sig_atomic_t>, but is
4822=back 5121=back
4823 5122
4824 5123
4825=head1 PORTING FROM LIBEV 3.X TO 4.X 5124=head1 PORTING FROM LIBEV 3.X TO 4.X
4826 5125
4827The major version 4 introduced some minor incompatible changes to the API. 5126The major version 4 introduced some incompatible changes to the API.
4828 5127
4829At the moment, the C<ev.h> header file tries to implement superficial 5128At the moment, the C<ev.h> header file provides compatibility definitions
4830compatibility, so most programs should still compile. Those might be 5129for all changes, so most programs should still compile. The compatibility
4831removed in later versions of libev, so better update early than late. 5130layer might be removed in later versions of libev, so better update to the
5131new API early than late.
4832 5132
4833=over 4 5133=over 4
5134
5135=item C<EV_COMPAT3> backwards compatibility mechanism
5136
5137The backward compatibility mechanism can be controlled by
5138C<EV_COMPAT3>. See L<PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS> in the L<EMBEDDING>
5139section.
5140
5141=item C<ev_default_destroy> and C<ev_default_fork> have been removed
5142
5143These calls can be replaced easily by their C<ev_loop_xxx> counterparts:
5144
5145 ev_loop_destroy (EV_DEFAULT_UC);
5146 ev_loop_fork (EV_DEFAULT);
4834 5147
4835=item function/symbol renames 5148=item function/symbol renames
4836 5149
4837A number of functions and symbols have been renamed: 5150A number of functions and symbols have been renamed:
4838 5151
4857ev_loop> anymore and C<EV_TIMER> now follows the same naming scheme 5170ev_loop> anymore and C<EV_TIMER> now follows the same naming scheme
4858as all other watcher types. Note that C<ev_loop_fork> is still called 5171as all other watcher types. Note that C<ev_loop_fork> is still called
4859C<ev_loop_fork> because it would otherwise clash with the C<ev_fork> 5172C<ev_loop_fork> because it would otherwise clash with the C<ev_fork>
4860typedef. 5173typedef.
4861 5174
4862=item C<EV_COMPAT3> backwards compatibility mechanism
4863
4864The backward compatibility mechanism can be controlled by
4865C<EV_COMPAT3>. See L<PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS> in the L<EMBEDDING>
4866section.
4867
4868=item C<EV_MINIMAL> mechanism replaced by C<EV_FEATURES> 5175=item C<EV_MINIMAL> mechanism replaced by C<EV_FEATURES>
4869 5176
4870The preprocessor symbol C<EV_MINIMAL> has been replaced by a different 5177The preprocessor symbol C<EV_MINIMAL> has been replaced by a different
4871mechanism, C<EV_FEATURES>. Programs using C<EV_MINIMAL> usually compile 5178mechanism, C<EV_FEATURES>. Programs using C<EV_MINIMAL> usually compile
4872and work, but the library code will of course be larger. 5179and work, but the library code will of course be larger.
4934The physical time that is observed. It is apparently strictly monotonic :) 5241The physical time that is observed. It is apparently strictly monotonic :)
4935 5242
4936=item wall-clock time 5243=item wall-clock time
4937 5244
4938The time and date as shown on clocks. Unlike real time, it can actually 5245The time and date as shown on clocks. Unlike real time, it can actually
4939be wrong and jump forwards and backwards, e.g. when the you adjust your 5246be wrong and jump forwards and backwards, e.g. when you adjust your
4940clock. 5247clock.
4941 5248
4942=item watcher 5249=item watcher
4943 5250
4944A data structure that describes interest in certain events. Watchers need 5251A data structure that describes interest in certain events. Watchers need
4946 5253
4947=back 5254=back
4948 5255
4949=head1 AUTHOR 5256=head1 AUTHOR
4950 5257
4951Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>, with repeated corrections by Mikael Magnusson. 5258Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>, with repeated corrections by Mikael
5259Magnusson and Emanuele Giaquinta, and minor corrections by many others.
4952 5260

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