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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
300An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *> (the C<struct> is 308An 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 309I<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). 310libev 3 had an C<ev_loop> function colliding with the struct name).
303 311
304The library knows two types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which 312The library knows two types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which
305supports signals and child events, and dynamically created event loops 313supports child process events, and dynamically created event loops which
306which do not. 314do not.
307 315
308=over 4 316=over 4
309 317
310=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags) 318=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)
311 319
1112=item C<EV_FORK> 1120=item C<EV_FORK>
1113 1121
1114The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see 1122The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
1115C<ev_fork>). 1123C<ev_fork>).
1116 1124
1125=item C<EV_CLEANUP>
1126
1127The event loop is about to be destroyed (see C<ev_cleanup>).
1128
1117=item C<EV_ASYNC> 1129=item C<EV_ASYNC>
1118 1130
1119The given async watcher has been asynchronously notified (see C<ev_async>). 1131The given async watcher has been asynchronously notified (see C<ev_async>).
1120 1132
1121=item C<EV_CUSTOM> 1133=item C<EV_CUSTOM>
3090 3102
3091=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members 3103=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
3092 3104
3093=over 4 3105=over 4
3094 3106
3095=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback) 3107=item ev_fork_init (ev_fork *, callback)
3096 3108
3097Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any 3109Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
3098kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless, 3110kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
3099believe me. 3111really.
3100 3112
3101=back 3113=back
3114
3115
3116=head2 C<ev_cleanup> - even the best things end
3117
3118Cleanup watchers are called just before the event loop is being destroyed
3119by a call to C<ev_loop_destroy>.
3120
3121While there is no guarantee that the event loop gets destroyed, cleanup
3122watchers provide a convenient method to install cleanup hooks for your
3123program, worker threads and so on - you just to make sure to destroy the
3124loop when you want them to be invoked.
3125
3126Cleanup watchers are invoked in the same way as any other watcher. Unlike
3127all other watchers, they do not keep a reference to the event loop (which
3128makes a lot of sense if you think about it). Like all other watchers, you
3129can call libev functions in the callback, except C<ev_cleanup_start>.
3130
3131=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
3132
3133=over 4
3134
3135=item ev_cleanup_init (ev_cleanup *, callback)
3136
3137Initialises and configures the cleanup watcher - it has no parameters of
3138any kind. There is a C<ev_cleanup_set> macro, but using it is utterly
3139pointless, I assure you.
3140
3141=back
3142
3143Example: Register an atexit handler to destroy the default loop, so any
3144cleanup functions are called.
3145
3146 static void
3147 program_exits (void)
3148 {
3149 ev_loop_destroy (EV_DEFAULT_UC);
3150 }
3151
3152 ...
3153 atexit (program_exits);
3102 3154
3103 3155
3104=head2 C<ev_async> - how to wake up an event loop 3156=head2 C<ev_async> - how to wake up an event loop
3105 3157
3106In general, you cannot use an C<ev_run> from multiple threads or other 3158In general, you cannot use an C<ev_run> from multiple threads or other
4713structure (guaranteed by POSIX but not by ISO C for example), but it also 4765structure (guaranteed by POSIX but not by ISO C for example), but it also
4714assumes that the same (machine) code can be used to call any watcher 4766assumes that the same (machine) code can be used to call any watcher
4715callback: The watcher callbacks have different type signatures, but libev 4767callback: The watcher callbacks have different type signatures, but libev
4716calls them using an C<ev_watcher *> internally. 4768calls them using an C<ev_watcher *> internally.
4717 4769
4770=item pointer accesses must be thread-atomic
4771
4772Accessing a pointer value must be atomic, it must both be readable and
4773writable in one piece - this is the case on all current architectures.
4774
4718=item C<sig_atomic_t volatile> must be thread-atomic as well 4775=item C<sig_atomic_t volatile> must be thread-atomic as well
4719 4776
4720The type C<sig_atomic_t volatile> (or whatever is defined as 4777The type C<sig_atomic_t volatile> (or whatever is defined as
4721C<EV_ATOMIC_T>) must be atomic with respect to accesses from different 4778C<EV_ATOMIC_T>) must be atomic with respect to accesses from different
4722threads. This is not part of the specification for C<sig_atomic_t>, but is 4779threads. This is not part of the specification for C<sig_atomic_t>, but is
4828=back 4885=back
4829 4886
4830 4887
4831=head1 PORTING FROM LIBEV 3.X TO 4.X 4888=head1 PORTING FROM LIBEV 3.X TO 4.X
4832 4889
4833The major version 4 introduced some minor incompatible changes to the API. 4890The major version 4 introduced some incompatible changes to the API.
4834 4891
4835At the moment, the C<ev.h> header file tries to implement superficial 4892At the moment, the C<ev.h> header file provides compatibility definitions
4836compatibility, so most programs should still compile. Those might be 4893for all changes, so most programs should still compile. The compatibility
4837removed in later versions of libev, so better update early than late. 4894layer might be removed in later versions of libev, so better update to the
4895new API early than late.
4838 4896
4839=over 4 4897=over 4
4840 4898
4899=item C<EV_COMPAT3> backwards compatibility mechanism
4900
4901The backward compatibility mechanism can be controlled by
4902C<EV_COMPAT3>. See L<PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS> in the L<EMBEDDING>
4903section.
4904
4841=item C<ev_default_destroy> and C<ev_default_fork> have been removed 4905=item C<ev_default_destroy> and C<ev_default_fork> have been removed
4842 4906
4843These calls can be replaced easily by their C<ev_loop_xxx> counterparts: 4907These calls can be replaced easily by their C<ev_loop_xxx> counterparts:
4844 4908
4845 ev_loop_destroy (EV_DEFAULT); 4909 ev_loop_destroy (EV_DEFAULT_UC);
4846 ev_loop_fork (EV_DEFAULT); 4910 ev_loop_fork (EV_DEFAULT);
4847 4911
4848=item function/symbol renames 4912=item function/symbol renames
4849 4913
4850A number of functions and symbols have been renamed: 4914A number of functions and symbols have been renamed:
4870ev_loop> anymore and C<EV_TIMER> now follows the same naming scheme 4934ev_loop> anymore and C<EV_TIMER> now follows the same naming scheme
4871as all other watcher types. Note that C<ev_loop_fork> is still called 4935as all other watcher types. Note that C<ev_loop_fork> is still called
4872C<ev_loop_fork> because it would otherwise clash with the C<ev_fork> 4936C<ev_loop_fork> because it would otherwise clash with the C<ev_fork>
4873typedef. 4937typedef.
4874 4938
4875=item C<EV_COMPAT3> backwards compatibility mechanism
4876
4877The backward compatibility mechanism can be controlled by
4878C<EV_COMPAT3>. See L<PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS> in the L<EMBEDDING>
4879section.
4880
4881=item C<EV_MINIMAL> mechanism replaced by C<EV_FEATURES> 4939=item C<EV_MINIMAL> mechanism replaced by C<EV_FEATURES>
4882 4940
4883The preprocessor symbol C<EV_MINIMAL> has been replaced by a different 4941The preprocessor symbol C<EV_MINIMAL> has been replaced by a different
4884mechanism, C<EV_FEATURES>. Programs using C<EV_MINIMAL> usually compile 4942mechanism, C<EV_FEATURES>. Programs using C<EV_MINIMAL> usually compile
4885and work, but the library code will of course be larger. 4943and work, but the library code will of course be larger.
4959 5017
4960=back 5018=back
4961 5019
4962=head1 AUTHOR 5020=head1 AUTHOR
4963 5021
4964Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>, with repeated corrections by Mikael Magnusson. 5022Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>, with repeated corrections by Mikael
5023Magnusson and Emanuele Giaquinta.
4965 5024

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