ViewVC Help
View File | Revision Log | Show Annotations | Download File
/cvs/libev/ev.pod
(Generate patch)

Comparing libev/ev.pod (file contents):
Revision 1.335 by root, Mon Oct 25 10:32:05 2010 UTC vs.
Revision 1.342 by root, Wed Nov 10 13:16:44 2010 UTC

241the 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 ()
242& ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for recommended ones. 242& ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for recommended ones.
243 243
244See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info. 244See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
245 245
246=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size)) [NOT REENTRANT] 246=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))
247 247
248Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the 248Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the
249semantics 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
250used 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
251when 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
277 } 277 }
278 278
279 ... 279 ...
280 ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc); 280 ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);
281 281
282=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg)); [NOT REENTRANT] 282=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg))
283 283
284Set 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
285as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string 285as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string
286indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this 286indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this
287callback 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
402environment variable. 402environment variable.
403 403
404=item C<EVFLAG_NOINOTIFY> 404=item C<EVFLAG_NOINOTIFY>
405 405
406When this flag is specified, then libev will not attempt to use the 406When this flag is specified, then libev will not attempt to use the
407I<inotify> API for it's C<ev_stat> watchers. Apart from debugging and 407I<inotify> API for its C<ev_stat> watchers. Apart from debugging and
408testing, this flag can be useful to conserve inotify file descriptors, as 408testing, this flag can be useful to conserve inotify file descriptors, as
409otherwise each loop using C<ev_stat> watchers consumes one inotify handle. 409otherwise each loop using C<ev_stat> watchers consumes one inotify handle.
410 410
411=item C<EVFLAG_SIGNALFD> 411=item C<EVFLAG_SIGNALFD>
412 412
413When this flag is specified, then libev will attempt to use the 413When this flag is specified, then libev will attempt to use the
414I<signalfd> API for it's C<ev_signal> (and C<ev_child>) watchers. This API 414I<signalfd> API for its C<ev_signal> (and C<ev_child>) watchers. This API
415delivers signals synchronously, which makes it both faster and might make 415delivers signals synchronously, which makes it both faster and might make
416it possible to get the queued signal data. It can also simplify signal 416it possible to get the queued signal data. It can also simplify signal
417handling with threads, as long as you properly block signals in your 417handling with threads, as long as you properly block signals in your
418threads that are not interested in handling them. 418threads that are not interested in handling them.
419 419
463epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds). 463epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds).
464 464
465The epoll mechanism deserves honorable mention as the most misdesigned 465The epoll mechanism deserves honorable mention as the most misdesigned
466of the more advanced event mechanisms: mere annoyances include silently 466of the more advanced event mechanisms: mere annoyances include silently
467dropping file descriptors, requiring a system call per change per file 467dropping file descriptors, requiring a system call per change per file
468descriptor (and unnecessary guessing of parameters), problems with dup and 468descriptor (and unnecessary guessing of parameters), problems with dup,
469returning before the timeout value, resulting in additional iterations
470(and only giving 5ms accuracy while select on the same platform gives
469so on. The biggest issue is fork races, however - if a program forks then 4710.1ms) and so on. The biggest issue is fork races, however - if a program
470I<both> parent and child process have to recreate the epoll set, which can 472forks then I<both> parent and child process have to recreate the epoll
471take considerable time (one syscall per file descriptor) and is of course 473set, which can take considerable time (one syscall per file descriptor)
472hard to detect. 474and is of course hard to detect.
473 475
474Epoll is also notoriously buggy - embedding epoll fds I<should> work, but 476Epoll is also notoriously buggy - embedding epoll fds I<should> work, but
475of course I<doesn't>, and epoll just loves to report events for totally 477of course I<doesn't>, and epoll just loves to report events for totally
476I<different> file descriptors (even already closed ones, so one cannot 478I<different> file descriptors (even already closed ones, so one cannot
477even remove them from the set) than registered in the set (especially 479even remove them from the set) than registered in the set (especially
479employing an additional generation counter and comparing that against the 481employing an additional generation counter and comparing that against the
480events to filter out spurious ones, recreating the set when required. Last 482events to filter out spurious ones, recreating the set when required. Last
481not least, it also refuses to work with some file descriptors which work 483not least, it also refuses to work with some file descriptors which work
482perfectly fine with C<select> (files, many character devices...). 484perfectly fine with C<select> (files, many character devices...).
483 485
486Epoll is truly the train wreck analog among event poll mechanisms.
487
484While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration 488While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration
485will result in some caching, there is still a system call per such 489will result in some caching, there is still a system call per such
486incident (because the same I<file descriptor> could point to a different 490incident (because the same I<file descriptor> could point to a different
487I<file description> now), so its best to avoid that. Also, C<dup ()>'ed 491I<file description> now), so its best to avoid that. Also, C<dup ()>'ed
488file descriptors might not work very well if you register events for both 492file descriptors might not work very well if you register events for both
615This function is normally used on loop objects allocated by 619This function is normally used on loop objects allocated by
616C<ev_loop_new>, but it can also be used on the default loop returned by 620C<ev_loop_new>, but it can also be used on the default loop returned by
617C<ev_default_loop>, in which case it is not thread-safe. 621C<ev_default_loop>, in which case it is not thread-safe.
618 622
619Note that it is not advisable to call this function on the default loop 623Note that it is not advisable to call this function on the default loop
620except in the rare occasion where you really need to free it's resources. 624except in the rare occasion where you really need to free its resources.
621If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use C<ev_loop_new> 625If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use C<ev_loop_new>
622and C<ev_loop_destroy>. 626and C<ev_loop_destroy>.
623 627
624=item ev_loop_fork (loop) 628=item ev_loop_fork (loop)
625 629
823Can be used to make a call to C<ev_run> return early (but only after it 827Can be used to make a call to C<ev_run> return early (but only after it
824has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either 828has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either
825C<EVBREAK_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_run> call return, or 829C<EVBREAK_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_run> call return, or
826C<EVBREAK_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_run> calls return. 830C<EVBREAK_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_run> calls return.
827 831
828This "unloop state" will be cleared when entering C<ev_run> again. 832This "break state" will be cleared when entering C<ev_run> again.
829 833
830It is safe to call C<ev_break> from outside any C<ev_run> calls. ##TODO## 834It is safe to call C<ev_break> from outside any C<ev_run> calls, too.
831 835
832=item ev_ref (loop) 836=item ev_ref (loop)
833 837
834=item ev_unref (loop) 838=item ev_unref (loop)
835 839
982 986
983=item ev_userdata (loop) 987=item ev_userdata (loop)
984 988
985Set and retrieve a single C<void *> associated with a loop. When 989Set and retrieve a single C<void *> associated with a loop. When
986C<ev_set_userdata> has never been called, then C<ev_userdata> returns 990C<ev_set_userdata> has never been called, then C<ev_userdata> returns
987C<0.> 991C<0>.
988 992
989These two functions can be used to associate arbitrary data with a loop, 993These two functions can be used to associate arbitrary data with a loop,
990and are intended solely for the C<invoke_pending_cb>, C<release> and 994and are intended solely for the C<invoke_pending_cb>, C<release> and
991C<acquire> callbacks described above, but of course can be (ab-)used for 995C<acquire> callbacks described above, but of course can be (ab-)used for
992any other purpose as well. 996any other purpose as well.
2256 2260
2257=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled! 2261=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!
2258 2262
2259Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific 2263Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
2260signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev 2264signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev
2261will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the 2265will try its best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the
2262normal event processing, like any other event. 2266normal event processing, like any other event.
2263 2267
2264If you want signals to be delivered truly asynchronously, just use 2268If you want signals to be delivered truly asynchronously, just use
2265C<sigaction> as you would do without libev and forget about sharing 2269C<sigaction> as you would do without libev and forget about sharing
2266the signal. You can even use C<ev_async> from a signal handler to 2270the signal. You can even use C<ev_async> from a signal handler to
3377=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities 3381=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities
3378will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there 3382will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there
3379is an ev_pri field. 3383is an ev_pri field.
3380 3384
3381=item * In libevent, the last base created gets the signals, in libev, the 3385=item * In libevent, the last base created gets the signals, in libev, the
3382first base created (== the default loop) gets the signals. 3386base that registered the signal gets the signals.
3383 3387
3384=item * Other members are not supported. 3388=item * Other members are not supported.
3385 3389
3386=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need 3390=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
3387to use the libev header file and library. 3391to use the libev header file and library.

Diff Legend

Removed lines
+ Added lines
< Changed lines
> Changed lines