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Revision 1.53 by root, Tue Nov 27 20:15:02 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.182 by root, Fri Sep 19 03:52:56 2008 UTC

…		…
2		2
3	libev - a high performance full-featured event loop written in C	3	libev - a high performance full-featured event loop written in C
4		4
5	=head1 SYNOPSIS	5	=head1 SYNOPSIS
6		6
7	/* this is the only header you need */
8	#include <ev.h>	7	#include <ev.h>
9		8
10	/* what follows is a fully working example program */	9	=head2 EXAMPLE PROGRAM
		10
		11	// a single header file is required
		12	#include <ev.h>
		13
		14	// every watcher type has its own typedef'd struct
		15	// with the name ev_<type>
11	ev_io stdin_watcher;	16	ev_io stdin_watcher;
12	ev_timer timeout_watcher;	17	ev_timer timeout_watcher;
13		18
14	/* called when data readable on stdin */	19	// all watcher callbacks have a similar signature
		20	// this callback is called when data is readable on stdin
15	static void	21	static void
16	stdin_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_io *w, int revents)	22	stdin_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_io *w, int revents)
17	{	23	{
18	/* puts ("stdin ready"); */	24	puts ("stdin ready");
19	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w); /* just a syntax example */	25	// for one-shot events, one must manually stop the watcher
20	ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ALL); /* leave all loop calls */	26	// with its corresponding stop function.
		27	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w);
		28
		29	// this causes all nested ev_loop's to stop iterating
		30	ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ALL);
21	}	31	}
22		32
		33	// another callback, this time for a time-out
23	static void	34	static void
24	timeout_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	35	timeout_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
25	{	36	{
26	/* puts ("timeout"); */	37	puts ("timeout");
27	ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ONE); /* leave one loop call */	38	// this causes the innermost ev_loop to stop iterating
		39	ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ONE);
28	}	40	}
29		41
30	int	42	int
31	main (void)	43	main (void)
32	{	44	{
		45	// use the default event loop unless you have special needs
33	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);	46	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
34		47
35	/* initialise an io watcher, then start it */	48	// initialise an io watcher, then start it
		49	// this one will watch for stdin to become readable
36	ev_io_init (&stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);	50	ev_io_init (&stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);
37	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);	51	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
38		52
		53	// initialise a timer watcher, then start it
39	/* simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout */	54	// simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout
40	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);	55	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
41	ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);	56	ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);
42		57
43	/* loop till timeout or data ready */	58	// now wait for events to arrive
44	ev_loop (loop, 0);	59	ev_loop (loop, 0);
45		60
		61	// unloop was called, so exit
46	return 0;	62	return 0;
47	}	63	}
48		64
49	=head1 DESCRIPTION	65	=head1 DESCRIPTION
50		66
		67	The newest version of this document is also available as an html-formatted
		68	web page you might find easier to navigate when reading it for the first
		69	time: L<http://pod.tst.eu/http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.pod>.
		70
51	Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a	71	Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a
52	file descriptor being readable or a timeout occuring), and it will manage	72	file descriptor being readable or a timeout occurring), and it will manage
53	these event sources and provide your program with events.	73	these event sources and provide your program with events.
54		74
55	To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process	75	To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process
56	(or thread) by executing the I<event loop> handler, and will then	76	(or thread) by executing the I<event loop> handler, and will then
57	communicate events via a callback mechanism.	77	communicate events via a callback mechanism.
…		…
59	You register interest in certain events by registering so-called I<event	79	You register interest in certain events by registering so-called I<event
60	watchers>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the	80	watchers>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the
61	details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by I<starting> the	81	details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by I<starting> the
62	watcher.	82	watcher.
63		83
64	=head1 FEATURES	84	=head2 FEATURES
65		85
66	Libev supports select, poll, the linux-specific epoll and the bsd-specific	86	Libev supports C<select>, C<poll>, the Linux-specific C<epoll>, the
67	kqueue mechanisms for file descriptor events, relative timers, absolute	87	BSD-specific C<kqueue> and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms
68	timers with customised rescheduling, signal events, process status change	88	for file descriptor events (C<ev_io>), the Linux C<inotify> interface
69	events (related to SIGCHLD), and event watchers dealing with the event	89	(for C<ev_stat>), relative timers (C<ev_timer>), absolute timers
70	loop mechanism itself (idle, prepare and check watchers). It also is quite	90	with customised rescheduling (C<ev_periodic>), synchronous signals
		91	(C<ev_signal>), process status change events (C<ev_child>), and event
		92	watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (C<ev_idle>,
		93	C<ev_embed>, C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> watchers) as well as
		94	file watchers (C<ev_stat>) and even limited support for fork events
		95	(C<ev_fork>).
		96
		97	It also is quite fast (see this
71	fast (see this L<benchmark|http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html> comparing	98	L<benchmark|http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html> comparing it to libevent
72	it to libevent for example).	99	for example).
73		100
74	=head1 CONVENTIONS	101	=head2 CONVENTIONS
75		102
76	Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration	103	Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default (and most common)
77	will be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info	104	configuration will be described, which supports multiple event loops. For
78	about various configuration options please have a look at the file	105	more info about various configuration options please have a look at
79	F<README.embed> in the libev distribution. If libev was configured without	106	B<EMBED> section in this manual. If libev was configured without support
80	support for multiple event loops, then all functions taking an initial	107	for multiple event loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of
81	argument of name C<loop> (which is always of type C<struct ev_loop *>)	108	name C<loop> (which is always of type C<struct ev_loop *>) will not have
82	will not have this argument.	109	this argument.
83		110
84	=head1 TIME REPRESENTATION	111	=head2 TIME REPRESENTATION
85		112
86	Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the	113	Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the
87	(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near	114	(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near
88	the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is	115	the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is
89	called C<ev_tstamp>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases	116	called C<ev_tstamp>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases
90	to the C<double> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on	117	to the C<double> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on
91	it, you should treat it as such.	118	it, you should treat it as some floating point value. Unlike the name
		119	component C<stamp> might indicate, it is also used for time differences
		120	throughout libev.
		121
		122	=head1 ERROR HANDLING
		123
		124	Libev knows three classes of errors: operating system errors, usage errors
		125	and internal errors (bugs).
		126
		127	When libev catches an operating system error it cannot handle (for example
		128	a system call indicating a condition libev cannot fix), it calls the callback
		129	set via C<ev_set_syserr_cb>, which is supposed to fix the problem or
		130	abort. The default is to print a diagnostic message and to call C<abort
		131	()>.
		132
		133	When libev detects a usage error such as a negative timer interval, then
		134	it will print a diagnostic message and abort (via the C<assert> mechanism,
		135	so C<NDEBUG> will disable this checking): these are programming errors in
		136	the libev caller and need to be fixed there.
		137
		138	Libev also has a few internal error-checking C<assert>ions, and also has
		139	extensive consistency checking code. These do not trigger under normal
		140	circumstances, as they indicate either a bug in libev or worse.
		141
92		142
93	=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS	143	=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
94		144
95	These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the	145	These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the
96	library in any way.	146	library in any way.
…		…
101		151
102	Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the	152	Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the
103	C<ev_now> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp	153	C<ev_now> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp
104	you actually want to know.	154	you actually want to know.
105		155
		156	=item ev_sleep (ev_tstamp interval)
		157
		158	Sleep for the given interval: The current thread will be blocked until
		159	either it is interrupted or the given time interval has passed. Basically
		160	this is a sub-second-resolution C<sleep ()>.
		161
106	=item int ev_version_major ()	162	=item int ev_version_major ()
107		163
108	=item int ev_version_minor ()	164	=item int ev_version_minor ()
109		165
110	You can find out the major and minor version numbers of the library	166	You can find out the major and minor ABI version numbers of the library
111	you linked against by calling the functions C<ev_version_major> and	167	you linked against by calling the functions C<ev_version_major> and
112	C<ev_version_minor>. If you want, you can compare against the global	168	C<ev_version_minor>. If you want, you can compare against the global
113	symbols C<EV_VERSION_MAJOR> and C<EV_VERSION_MINOR>, which specify the	169	symbols C<EV_VERSION_MAJOR> and C<EV_VERSION_MINOR>, which specify the
114	version of the library your program was compiled against.	170	version of the library your program was compiled against.
115		171
		172	These version numbers refer to the ABI version of the library, not the
		173	release version.
		174
116	Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch,	175	Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch,
117	as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually	176	as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
118	compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually	177	compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually
119	not a problem.	178	not a problem.
120		179
121	Example: make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong	180	Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
122	version:	181	version.
123		182
124	assert (("libev version mismatch",	183	assert (("libev version mismatch",
125	ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR	184	ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR
126	&& ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));	185	&& ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));
127		186
128	=item unsigned int ev_supported_backends ()	187	=item unsigned int ev_supported_backends ()
129		188
130	Return the set of all backends (i.e. their corresponding C<EV_BACKEND_*>	189	Return the set of all backends (i.e. their corresponding C<EV_BACKEND_*>
131	value) compiled into this binary of libev (independent of their	190	value) compiled into this binary of libev (independent of their
…		…
133	a description of the set values.	192	a description of the set values.
134		193
135	Example: make sure we have the epoll method, because yeah this is cool and	194	Example: make sure we have the epoll method, because yeah this is cool and
136	a must have and can we have a torrent of it please!!!11	195	a must have and can we have a torrent of it please!!!11
137		196
138	assert (("sorry, no epoll, no sex",	197	assert (("sorry, no epoll, no sex",
139	ev_supported_backends () & EVBACKEND_EPOLL));	198	ev_supported_backends () & EVBACKEND_EPOLL));
140		199
141	=item unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()	200	=item unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()
142		201
143	Return the set of all backends compiled into this binary of libev and also	202	Return the set of all backends compiled into this binary of libev and also
144	recommended for this platform. This set is often smaller than the one	203	recommended for this platform. This set is often smaller than the one
145	returned by C<ev_supported_backends>, as for example kqueue is broken on	204	returned by C<ev_supported_backends>, as for example kqueue is broken on
146	most BSDs and will not be autodetected unless you explicitly request it	205	most BSDs and will not be auto-detected unless you explicitly request it
147	(assuming you know what you are doing). This is the set of backends that	206	(assuming you know what you are doing). This is the set of backends that
148	libev will probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.	207	libev will probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.
149		208
150	=item unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()	209	=item unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()
151		210
…		…
155	C<ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for	214	C<ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for
156	recommended ones.	215	recommended ones.
157		216
158	See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.	217	See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
159		218
160	=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, size_t size))	219	=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))
161		220
162	Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype and semantics are	221	Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the
163	identical to the realloc C function). It is used to allocate and free	222	semantics are identical to the C<realloc> C89/SuS/POSIX function). It is
164	memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when memory needs to be	223	used to allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero
165	allocated, the library might abort or take some potentially destructive	224	when memory needs to be allocated (C<size != 0>), the library might abort
166	action. The default is your system realloc function.	225	or take some potentially destructive action.
		226
		227	Since some systems (at least OpenBSD and Darwin) fail to implement
		228	correct C<realloc> semantics, libev will use a wrapper around the system
		229	C<realloc> and C<free> functions by default.
167		230
168	You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,	231	You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,
169	free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,	232	free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,
170	or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.	233	or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.
171		234
172	Example: replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then	235	Example: Replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then
173	retries: better than mine).	236	retries (example requires a standards-compliant C<realloc>).
174		237
175	static void *	238	static void *
176	persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)	239	persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)
177	{	240	{
178	for (;;)	241	for (;;)
…		…
189	...	252	...
190	ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);	253	ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);
191		254
192	=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg));	255	=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg));
193		256
194	Set the callback function to call on a retryable syscall error (such	257	Set the callback function to call on a retryable system call error (such
195	as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string	258	as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string
196	indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this	259	indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this
197	callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no	260	callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the situation, no
198	matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the	261	matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the
199	requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff	262	requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff
200	(such as abort).	263	(such as abort).
201		264
202	Example: do the same thing as libev does internally:	265	Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.
203		266
204	static void	267	static void
205	fatal_error (const char *msg)	268	fatal_error (const char *msg)
206	{	269	{
207	perror (msg);	270	perror (msg);
…		…
216	=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP	279	=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP
217		280
218	An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *>. The library knows two	281	An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *>. The library knows two
219	types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which supports signals and child	282	types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which supports signals and child
220	events, and dynamically created loops which do not.	283	events, and dynamically created loops which do not.
221
222	If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop
223	in your main thread (or in a separate thread) and for each thread you
224	create, you also create another event loop. Libev itself does no locking
225	whatsoever, so if you mix calls to the same event loop in different
226	threads, make sure you lock (this is usually a bad idea, though, even if
227	done correctly, because it's hideous and inefficient).
228		284
229	=over 4	285	=over 4
230		286
231	=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)	287	=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)
232		288
…		…
236	flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards).	292	flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards).
237		293
238	If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this	294	If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this
239	function.	295	function.
240		296
		297	Note that this function is I<not> thread-safe, so if you want to use it
		298	from multiple threads, you have to lock (note also that this is unlikely,
		299	as loops cannot bes hared easily between threads anyway).
		300
		301	The default loop is the only loop that can handle C<ev_signal> and
		302	C<ev_child> watchers, and to do this, it always registers a handler
		303	for C<SIGCHLD>. If this is a problem for your application you can either
		304	create a dynamic loop with C<ev_loop_new> that doesn't do that, or you
		305	can simply overwrite the C<SIGCHLD> signal handler I<after> calling
		306	C<ev_default_init>.
		307
241	The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific	308	The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific
242	backends to use, and is usually specified as C<0> (or C<EVFLAG_AUTO>).	309	backends to use, and is usually specified as C<0> (or C<EVFLAG_AUTO>).
243		310
244	The following flags are supported:	311	The following flags are supported:
245		312
…		…
250	The default flags value. Use this if you have no clue (it's the right	317	The default flags value. Use this if you have no clue (it's the right
251	thing, believe me).	318	thing, believe me).
252		319
253	=item C<EVFLAG_NOENV>	320	=item C<EVFLAG_NOENV>
254		321
255	If this flag bit is ored into the flag value (or the program runs setuid	322	If this flag bit is or'ed into the flag value (or the program runs setuid
256	or setgid) then libev will I<not> look at the environment variable	323	or setgid) then libev will I<not> look at the environment variable
257	C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will	324	C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
258	override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is	325	override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is
259	useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work	326	useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work
260	around bugs.	327	around bugs.
261		328
		329	=item C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>
		330
		331	Instead of calling C<ev_default_fork> or C<ev_loop_fork> manually after
		332	a fork, you can also make libev check for a fork in each iteration by
		333	enabling this flag.
		334
		335	This works by calling C<getpid ()> on every iteration of the loop,
		336	and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop
		337	iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my
		338	GNU/Linux system for example, C<getpid> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence
		339	without a system call and thus I<very> fast, but my GNU/Linux system also has
		340	C<pthread_atfork> which is even faster).
		341
		342	The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and
		343	forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this
		344	flag.
		345
		346	This flag setting cannot be overridden or specified in the C<LIBEV_FLAGS>
		347	environment variable.
		348
262	=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)	349	=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)
263		350
264	This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as	351	This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as
265	libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,	352	libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,
266	but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when	353	but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when
267	using this backend. It doesn't scale too well (O(highest_fd)), but its usually	354	using this backend. It doesn't scale too well (O(highest_fd)), but its
268	the fastest backend for a low number of fds.	355	usually the fastest backend for a low number of (low-numbered :) fds.
		356
		357	To get good performance out of this backend you need a high amount of
		358	parallelism (most of the file descriptors should be busy). If you are
		359	writing a server, you should C<accept ()> in a loop to accept as many
		360	connections as possible during one iteration. You might also want to have
		361	a look at C<ev_set_io_collect_interval ()> to increase the amount of
		362	readiness notifications you get per iteration.
		363
		364	This backend maps C<EV_READ> to the C<readfds> set and C<EV_WRITE> to the
		365	C<writefds> set (and to work around Microsoft Windows bugs, also onto the
		366	C<exceptfds> set on that platform).
269		367
270	=item C<EVBACKEND_POLL> (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)	368	=item C<EVBACKEND_POLL> (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)
271		369
272	And this is your standard poll(2) backend. It's more complicated than	370	And this is your standard poll(2) backend. It's more complicated
273	select, but handles sparse fds better and has no artificial limit on the	371	than select, but handles sparse fds better and has no artificial
274	number of fds you can use (except it will slow down considerably with a	372	limit on the number of fds you can use (except it will slow down
275	lot of inactive fds). It scales similarly to select, i.e. O(total_fds).	373	considerably with a lot of inactive fds). It scales similarly to select,
		374	i.e. O(total_fds). See the entry for C<EVBACKEND_SELECT>, above, for
		375	performance tips.
		376
		377	This backend maps C<EV_READ> to C<POLLIN | POLLERR | POLLHUP>, and
		378	C<EV_WRITE> to C<POLLOUT | POLLERR | POLLHUP>.
276		379
277	=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)	380	=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)
278		381
279	For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,	382	For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,
280	but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale like	383	but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale
281	O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd), epoll scales	384	like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd),
282	either O(1) or O(active_fds).	385	epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds). The epoll design has a number
		386	of shortcomings, such as silently dropping events in some hard-to-detect
		387	cases and requiring a system call per fd change, no fork support and bad
		388	support for dup.
283		389
284	While stopping and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration will	390	While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration
285	result in some caching, there is still a syscall per such incident	391	will result in some caching, there is still a system call per such incident
286	(because the fd could point to a different file description now), so its	392	(because the fd could point to a different file description now), so its
287	best to avoid that. Also, dup()ed file descriptors might not work very	393	best to avoid that. Also, C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors might not work
288	well if you register events for both fds.	394	very well if you register events for both fds.
289		395
290	Please note that epoll sometimes generates spurious notifications, so you	396	Please note that epoll sometimes generates spurious notifications, so you
291	need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid blocking when no data	397	need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid blocking when no data
292	(or space) is available.	398	(or space) is available.
293		399
		400	Best performance from this backend is achieved by not unregistering all
		401	watchers for a file descriptor until it has been closed, if possible, i.e.
		402	keep at least one watcher active per fd at all times.
		403
		404	While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this feature is broken in
		405	all kernel versions tested so far.
		406
		407	This backend maps C<EV_READ> and C<EV_WRITE> in the same way as
		408	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
		409
294	=item C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE> (value 8, most BSD clones)	410	=item C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE> (value 8, most BSD clones)
295		411
296	Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it	412	Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it
297	was broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work with	413	was broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work reliably
298	anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course its	414	with anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course
299	completely useless). For this reason its not being "autodetected"	415	it's completely useless). For this reason it's not being "auto-detected"
300	unless you explicitly specify it explicitly in the flags (i.e. using	416	unless you explicitly specify it explicitly in the flags (i.e. using
301	C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>).	417	C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>) or libev was compiled on a known-to-be-good (-enough)
		418	system like NetBSD.
		419
		420	You still can embed kqueue into a normal poll or select backend and use it
		421	only for sockets (after having made sure that sockets work with kqueue on
		422	the target platform). See C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
302		423
303	It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the	424	It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the
304	kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of	425	kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of
305	course). While starting and stopping an I/O watcher does not cause an	426	course). While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher does never
306	extra syscall as with epoll, it still adds up to four event changes per	427	cause an extra system call as with C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL>, it still adds up to
307	incident, so its best to avoid that.	428	two event changes per incident, support for C<fork ()> is very bad and it
		429	drops fds silently in similarly hard-to-detect cases.
		430
		431	This backend usually performs well under most conditions.
		432
		433	While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this doesn't work
		434	everywhere, so you might need to test for this. And since it is broken
		435	almost everywhere, you should only use it when you have a lot of sockets
		436	(for which it usually works), by embedding it into another event loop
		437	(e.g. C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>) and using it only for
		438	sockets.
		439
		440	This backend maps C<EV_READ> into an C<EVFILT_READ> kevent with
		441	C<NOTE_EOF>, and C<EV_WRITE> into an C<EVFILT_WRITE> kevent with
		442	C<NOTE_EOF>.
308		443
309	=item C<EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL> (value 16, Solaris 8)	444	=item C<EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL> (value 16, Solaris 8)
310		445
311	This is not implemented yet (and might never be).	446	This is not implemented yet (and might never be, unless you send me an
		447	implementation). According to reports, C</dev/poll> only supports sockets
		448	and is not embeddable, which would limit the usefulness of this backend
		449	immensely.
312		450
313	=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)	451	=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)
314		452
315	This uses the Solaris 10 port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,	453	This uses the Solaris 10 event port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,
316	it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).	454	it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).
317		455
318	Please note that solaris ports can result in a lot of spurious	456	Please note that Solaris event ports can deliver a lot of spurious
319	notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid	457	notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid
320	blocking when no data (or space) is available.	458	blocking when no data (or space) is available.
		459
		460	While this backend scales well, it requires one system call per active
		461	file descriptor per loop iteration. For small and medium numbers of file
		462	descriptors a "slow" C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL> backend
		463	might perform better.
		464
		465	On the positive side, ignoring the spurious readiness notifications, this
		466	backend actually performed to specification in all tests and is fully
		467	embeddable, which is a rare feat among the OS-specific backends.
		468
		469	This backend maps C<EV_READ> and C<EV_WRITE> in the same way as
		470	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
321		471
322	=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>	472	=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>
323		473
324	Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried	474	Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried
325	with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as	475	with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as
326	C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.	476	C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.
327		477
		478	It is definitely not recommended to use this flag.
		479
328	=back	480	=back
329		481
330	If one or more of these are ored into the flags value, then only these	482	If one or more of these are or'ed into the flags value, then only these
331	backends will be tried (in the reverse order as given here). If none are	483	backends will be tried (in the reverse order as listed here). If none are
332	specified, most compiled-in backend will be tried, usually in reverse	484	specified, all backends in C<ev_recommended_backends ()> will be tried.
333	order of their flag values :)
334		485
335	The most typical usage is like this:	486	The most typical usage is like this:
336		487
337	if (!ev_default_loop (0))	488	if (!ev_default_loop (0))
338	fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");	489	fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");
339		490
340	Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow	491	Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow
341	environment settings to be taken into account:	492	environment settings to be taken into account:
342		493
343	ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);	494	ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);
344		495
345	Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is used if	496	Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is used if
346	available (warning, breaks stuff, best use only with your own private	497	available (warning, breaks stuff, best use only with your own private
347	event loop and only if you know the OS supports your types of fds):	498	event loop and only if you know the OS supports your types of fds):
348		499
349	ev_default_loop (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);	500	ev_default_loop (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);
350		501
351	=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)	502	=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)
352		503
353	Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is	504	Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is
354	always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot	505	always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot
355	handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by	506	handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
356	undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).	507	undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).
357		508
		509	Note that this function I<is> thread-safe, and the recommended way to use
		510	libev with threads is indeed to create one loop per thread, and using the
		511	default loop in the "main" or "initial" thread.
		512
358	Example: try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.	513	Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.
359		514
360	struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);	515	struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
361	if (!epoller)	516	if (!epoller)
362	fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");	517	fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");
363		518
364	=item ev_default_destroy ()	519	=item ev_default_destroy ()
365		520
366	Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state	521	Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state
367	etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal	522	etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal
368	sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your	523	sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your
369	responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yoursef I<before>	524	responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yourself I<before>
370	calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually	525	calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually
371	the easiest thing, youc na just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them	526	the easiest thing, you can just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them
372	for example).	527	for example).
		528
		529	Note that certain global state, such as signal state, will not be freed by
		530	this function, and related watchers (such as signal and child watchers)
		531	would need to be stopped manually.
		532
		533	In general it is not advisable to call this function except in the
		534	rare occasion where you really need to free e.g. the signal handling
		535	pipe fds. If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use
		536	C<ev_loop_new> and C<ev_loop_destroy>).
373		537
374	=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)	538	=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)
375		539
376	Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an	540	Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an
377	earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>.	541	earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>.
378		542
379	=item ev_default_fork ()	543	=item ev_default_fork ()
380		544
		545	This function sets a flag that causes subsequent C<ev_loop> iterations
381	This function reinitialises the kernel state for backends that have	546	to reinitialise the kernel state for backends that have one. Despite the
382	one. Despite the name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense	547	name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense after forking, in
383	after forking, in either the parent or child process (or both, but that	548	the child process (or both child and parent, but that again makes little
384	again makes little sense).	549	sense). You I<must> call it in the child before using any of the libev
		550	functions, and it will only take effect at the next C<ev_loop> iteration.
385		551
386	You I<must> call this function in the child process after forking if and	552	On the other hand, you only need to call this function in the child
387	only if you want to use the event library in both processes. If you just	553	process if and only if you want to use the event library in the child. If
388	fork+exec, you don't have to call it.	554	you just fork+exec, you don't have to call it at all.
389		555
390	The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call	556	The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call
391	it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in	557	it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in
392	quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>:	558	quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>:
393		559
394	pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork);	560	pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork);
395		561
396	At the moment, C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and C<EVBACKEND_POLL> are safe to use
397	without calling this function, so if you force one of those backends you
398	do not need to care.
399
400	=item ev_loop_fork (loop)	562	=item ev_loop_fork (loop)
401		563
402	Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by	564	Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by
403	C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop	565	C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
404	after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.	566	after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.
		567
		568	=item int ev_is_default_loop (loop)
		569
		570	Returns true when the given loop actually is the default loop, false otherwise.
		571
		572	=item unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)
		573
		574	Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to
		575	the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at C<0> and
		576	happily wraps around with enough iterations.
		577
		578	This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it
		579	"ticks" the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with
		580	C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> calls.
405		581
406	=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)	582	=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)
407		583
408	Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in	584	Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in
409	use.	585	use.
…		…
412		588
413	Returns the current "event loop time", which is the time the event loop	589	Returns the current "event loop time", which is the time the event loop
414	received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not	590	received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not
415	change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base	591	change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base
416	time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the	592	time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the
417	event occuring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).	593	event occurring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).
		594
		595	=item ev_now_update (loop)
		596
		597	Establishes the current time by querying the kernel, updating the time
		598	returned by C<ev_now ()> in the progress. This is a costly operation and
		599	is usually done automatically within C<ev_loop ()>.
		600
		601	This function is rarely useful, but when some event callback runs for a
		602	very long time without entering the event loop, updating libev's idea of
		603	the current time is a good idea.
		604
		605	See also "The special problem of time updates" in the C<ev_timer> section.
418		606
419	=item ev_loop (loop, int flags)	607	=item ev_loop (loop, int flags)
420		608
421	Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called	609	Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called
422	after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling	610	after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling
…		…
434	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle	622	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle
435	those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in	623	those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in
436	case there are no events and will return after one iteration of the loop.	624	case there are no events and will return after one iteration of the loop.
437		625
438	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if	626	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if
439	neccessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block	627	necessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block
440	your process until at least one new event arrives, and will return after	628	your process until at least one new event arrives, and will return after
441	one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some	629	one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some
442	external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other	630	external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other
443	libev watchers. However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is	631	libev watchers. However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is
444	usually a better approach for this kind of thing.	632	usually a better approach for this kind of thing.
445		633
446	Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does:	634	Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does:
447		635
448	* If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return.	636	- Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
449	- Queue prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers.	637	* If EVFLAG_FORKCHECK was used, check for a fork.
		638	- If a fork was detected (by any means), queue and call all fork watchers.
		639	- Queue and call all prepare watchers.
450	- If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.	640	- If we have been forked, detach and recreate the kernel state
		641	as to not disturb the other process.
451	- Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.	642	- Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
452	- Update the "event loop time".	643	- Update the "event loop time" (ev_now ()).
453	- Calculate for how long to block.	644	- Calculate for how long to sleep or block, if at all
		645	(active idle watchers, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK or not having
		646	any active watchers at all will result in not sleeping).
		647	- Sleep if the I/O and timer collect interval say so.
454	- Block the process, waiting for any events.	648	- Block the process, waiting for any events.
455	- Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.	649	- Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.
456	- Update the "event loop time" and do time jump handling.	650	- Update the "event loop time" (ev_now ()), and do time jump adjustments.
457	- Queue all outstanding timers.	651	- Queue all outstanding timers.
458	- Queue all outstanding periodics.	652	- Queue all outstanding periodics.
459	- If no events are pending now, queue all idle watchers.	653	- Unless any events are pending now, queue all idle watchers.
460	- Queue all check watchers.	654	- Queue all check watchers.
461	- Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).	655	- Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).
462	Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will	656	Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will
463	be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.	657	be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
464	- If ev_unloop has been called or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK	658	- If ev_unloop has been called, or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK
465	were used, return, otherwise continue with step *.	659	were used, or there are no active watchers, return, otherwise
		660	continue with step *.
466		661
467	Example: queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding	662	Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outstanding
468	anymore.	663	anymore.
469		664
470	... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long	665	... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
471	... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)	666	... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
472	ev_loop (my_loop, 0);	667	ev_loop (my_loop, 0);
473	... jobs done. yeah!	668	... jobs done or somebody called unloop. yeah!
474		669
475	=item ev_unloop (loop, how)	670	=item ev_unloop (loop, how)
476		671
477	Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early (but only after it	672	Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early (but only after it
478	has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either	673	has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either
479	C<EVUNLOOP_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_loop> call return, or	674	C<EVUNLOOP_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_loop> call return, or
480	C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> calls return.	675	C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> calls return.
		676
		677	This "unloop state" will be cleared when entering C<ev_loop> again.
481		678
482	=item ev_ref (loop)	679	=item ev_ref (loop)
483		680
484	=item ev_unref (loop)	681	=item ev_unref (loop)
485		682
…		…
490	returning, ev_unref() after starting, and ev_ref() before stopping it. For	687	returning, ev_unref() after starting, and ev_ref() before stopping it. For
491	example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not	688	example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not
492	visible to the libev user and should not keep C<ev_loop> from exiting if	689	visible to the libev user and should not keep C<ev_loop> from exiting if
493	no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent	690	no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent
494	way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party	691	way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party
495	libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref before stop>.	692	libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref before stop>
		693	(but only if the watcher wasn't active before, or was active before,
		694	respectively).
496		695
497	Example: create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_loop>	696	Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_loop>
498	running when nothing else is active.	697	running when nothing else is active.
499		698
500	struct dv_signal exitsig;	699	struct ev_signal exitsig;
501	ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);	700	ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
502	ev_signal_start (myloop, &exitsig);	701	ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);
503	evf_unref (myloop);	702	evf_unref (loop);
504		703
505	Example: for some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.	704	Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.
506		705
507	ev_ref (myloop);	706	ev_ref (loop);
508	ev_signal_stop (myloop, &exitsig);	707	ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);
		708
		709	=item ev_set_io_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
		710
		711	=item ev_set_timeout_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
		712
		713	These advanced functions influence the time that libev will spend waiting
		714	for events. Both time intervals are by default C<0>, meaning that libev
		715	will try to invoke timer/periodic callbacks and I/O callbacks with minimum
		716	latency.
		717
		718	Setting these to a higher value (the C<interval> I<must> be >= C<0>)
		719	allows libev to delay invocation of I/O and timer/periodic callbacks
		720	to increase efficiency of loop iterations (or to increase power-saving
		721	opportunities).
		722
		723	The background is that sometimes your program runs just fast enough to
		724	handle one (or very few) event(s) per loop iteration. While this makes
		725	the program responsive, it also wastes a lot of CPU time to poll for new
		726	events, especially with backends like C<select ()> which have a high
		727	overhead for the actual polling but can deliver many events at once.
		728
		729	By setting a higher I<io collect interval> you allow libev to spend more
		730	time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration,
		731	at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both C<ev_periodic> and
		732	C<ev_timer>) will be not affected. Setting this to a non-null value will
		733	introduce an additional C<ev_sleep ()> call into most loop iterations.
		734
		735	Likewise, by setting a higher I<timeout collect interval> you allow libev
		736	to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased
		737	latency (the watcher callback will be called later). C<ev_io> watchers
		738	will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null value will not introduce
		739	any overhead in libev.
		740
		741	Many (busy) programs can usually benefit by setting the I/O collect
		742	interval to a value near C<0.1> or so, which is often enough for
		743	interactive servers (of course not for games), likewise for timeouts. It
		744	usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than C<0.01>,
		745	as this approaches the timing granularity of most systems.
		746
		747	Setting the I<timeout collect interval> can improve the opportunity for
		748	saving power, as the program will "bundle" timer callback invocations that
		749	are "near" in time together, by delaying some, thus reducing the number of
		750	times the process sleeps and wakes up again. Another useful technique to
		751	reduce iterations/wake-ups is to use C<ev_periodic> watchers and make sure
		752	they fire on, say, one-second boundaries only.
		753
		754	=item ev_loop_verify (loop)
		755
		756	This function only does something when C<EV_VERIFY> support has been
		757	compiled in. It tries to go through all internal structures and checks
		758	them for validity. If anything is found to be inconsistent, it will print
		759	an error message to standard error and call C<abort ()>.
		760
		761	This can be used to catch bugs inside libev itself: under normal
		762	circumstances, this function will never abort as of course libev keeps its
		763	data structures consistent.
509		764
510	=back	765	=back
511		766
512		767
513	=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER	768	=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER
514		769
515	A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your	770	A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your
516	interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to	771	interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to
517	become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher for that:	772	become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher for that:
518		773
519	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)	774	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
520	{	775	{
521	ev_io_stop (w);	776	ev_io_stop (w);
522	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);	777	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
523	}	778	}
524		779
525	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);	780	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
526	struct ev_io stdin_watcher;	781	struct ev_io stdin_watcher;
527	ev_init (&stdin_watcher, my_cb);	782	ev_init (&stdin_watcher, my_cb);
528	ev_io_set (&stdin_watcher, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);	783	ev_io_set (&stdin_watcher, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
529	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);	784	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
530	ev_loop (loop, 0);	785	ev_loop (loop, 0);
531		786
532	As you can see, you are responsible for allocating the memory for your	787	As you can see, you are responsible for allocating the memory for your
533	watcher structures (and it is usually a bad idea to do this on the stack,	788	watcher structures (and it is usually a bad idea to do this on the stack,
534	although this can sometimes be quite valid).	789	although this can sometimes be quite valid).
535		790
536	Each watcher structure must be initialised by a call to C<ev_init	791	Each watcher structure must be initialised by a call to C<ev_init
537	(watcher *, callback)>, which expects a callback to be provided. This	792	(watcher *, callback)>, which expects a callback to be provided. This
538	callback gets invoked each time the event occurs (or, in the case of io	793	callback gets invoked each time the event occurs (or, in the case of I/O
539	watchers, each time the event loop detects that the file descriptor given	794	watchers, each time the event loop detects that the file descriptor given
540	is readable and/or writable).	795	is readable and/or writable).
541		796
542	Each watcher type has its own C<< ev_<type>_set (watcher *, ...) >> macro	797	Each watcher type has its own C<< ev_<type>_set (watcher *, ...) >> macro
543	with arguments specific to this watcher type. There is also a macro	798	with arguments specific to this watcher type. There is also a macro
…		…
613	=item C<EV_FORK>	868	=item C<EV_FORK>
614		869
615	The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see	870	The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
616	C<ev_fork>).	871	C<ev_fork>).
617		872
		873	=item C<EV_ASYNC>
		874
		875	The given async watcher has been asynchronously notified (see C<ev_async>).
		876
618	=item C<EV_ERROR>	877	=item C<EV_ERROR>
619		878
620	An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might	879	An unspecified error has occurred, the watcher has been stopped. This might
621	happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev	880	happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev
622	ran out of memory, a file descriptor was found to be closed or any other	881	ran out of memory, a file descriptor was found to be closed or any other
623	problem. You best act on it by reporting the problem and somehow coping	882	problem. You best act on it by reporting the problem and somehow coping
624	with the watcher being stopped.	883	with the watcher being stopped.
625		884
626	Libev will usually signal a few "dummy" events together with an error,	885	Libev will usually signal a few "dummy" events together with an error,
627	for example it might indicate that a fd is readable or writable, and if	886	for example it might indicate that a fd is readable or writable, and if
628	your callbacks is well-written it can just attempt the operation and cope	887	your callbacks is well-written it can just attempt the operation and cope
629	with the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multithreaded	888	with the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multi-threaded
630	programs, though, so beware.	889	programs, though, so beware.
631		890
632	=back	891	=back
633		892
634	=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS	893	=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS
…		…
664	Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments	923	Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments
665	(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.	924	(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.
666		925
667	=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])	926	=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])
668		927
669	This convinience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro	928	This convenience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro
670	calls into a single call. This is the most convinient method to initialise	929	calls into a single call. This is the most convenient method to initialise
671	a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.	930	a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.
672		931
673	=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)	932	=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)
674		933
675	Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive	934	Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive
…		…
693	=item bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)	952	=item bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)
694		953
695	Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding	954	Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding
696	events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher	955	events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher
697	is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but	956	is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but
698	C<ev_TYPE_set> is safe) and you must make sure the watcher is available to	957	C<ev_TYPE_set> is safe), you must not change its priority, and you must
699	libev (e.g. you cnanot C<free ()> it).	958	make sure the watcher is available to libev (e.g. you cannot C<free ()>
		959	it).
700		960
701	=item callback = ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)	961	=item callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)
702		962
703	Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.	963	Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.
704		964
705	=item ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)	965	=item ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
706		966
707	Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time	967	Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
708	(modulo threads).	968	(modulo threads).
		969
		970	=item ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, priority)
		971
		972	=item int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)
		973
		974	Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small
		975	integer between C<EV_MAXPRI> (default: C<2>) and C<EV_MINPRI>
		976	(default: C<-2>). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked
		977	before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers
		978	from being executed (except for C<ev_idle> watchers).
		979
		980	This means that priorities are I<only> used for ordering callback
		981	invocation after new events have been received. This is useful, for
		982	example, to reduce latency after idling, or more often, to bind two
		983	watchers on the same event and make sure one is called first.
		984
		985	If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending
		986	you need to look at C<ev_idle> watchers, which provide this functionality.
		987
		988	You I<must not> change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or
		989	pending.
		990
		991	The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
		992	always C<0>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).
		993
		994	Setting a priority outside the range of C<EV_MINPRI> to C<EV_MAXPRI> is
		995	fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might
		996	or might not have been adjusted to be within valid range.
		997
		998	=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
		999
		1000	Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither
		1001	C<loop> nor C<revents> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
		1002	can deal with that fact.
		1003
		1004	=item int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
		1005
		1006	If the watcher is pending, this function returns clears its pending status
		1007	and returns its C<revents> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
		1008	watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>.
709		1009
710	=back	1010	=back
711		1011
712		1012
713	=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER	1013	=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER
…		…
717	to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and	1017	to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
718	don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data	1018	don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data
719	member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own	1019	member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own
720	data:	1020	data:
721		1021
722	struct my_io	1022	struct my_io
723	{	1023	{
724	struct ev_io io;	1024	struct ev_io io;
725	int otherfd;	1025	int otherfd;
726	void *somedata;	1026	void *somedata;
727	struct whatever *mostinteresting;	1027	struct whatever *mostinteresting;
728	}	1028	};
		1029
		1030	...
		1031	struct my_io w;
		1032	ev_io_init (&w.io, my_cb, fd, EV_READ);
729		1033
730	And since your callback will be called with a pointer to the watcher, you	1034	And since your callback will be called with a pointer to the watcher, you
731	can cast it back to your own type:	1035	can cast it back to your own type:
732		1036
733	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w_, int revents)	1037	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w_, int revents)
734	{	1038	{
735	struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;	1039	struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
736	...	1040	...
737	}	1041	}
738		1042
739	More interesting and less C-conformant ways of catsing your callback type	1043	More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type
740	have been omitted....	1044	instead have been omitted.
		1045
		1046	Another common scenario is to use some data structure with multiple
		1047	embedded watchers:
		1048
		1049	struct my_biggy
		1050	{
		1051	int some_data;
		1052	ev_timer t1;
		1053	ev_timer t2;
		1054	}
		1055
		1056	In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more
		1057	complicated: Either you store the address of your C<my_biggy> struct
		1058	in the C<data> member of the watcher, or you need to use some pointer
		1059	arithmetic using C<offsetof> inside your watchers:
		1060
		1061	#include <stddef.h>
		1062
		1063	static void
		1064	t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
		1065	{
		1066	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
		1067	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
		1068	}
		1069
		1070	static void
		1071	t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
		1072	{
		1073	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
		1074	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
		1075	}
741		1076
742		1077
743	=head1 WATCHER TYPES	1078	=head1 WATCHER TYPES
744		1079
745	This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat	1080	This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat
…		…
769	In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per	1104	In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per
770	fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file	1105	fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file
771	descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not	1106	descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
772	required if you know what you are doing).	1107	required if you know what you are doing).
773		1108
774	You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends
775	(the linux epoll backend is a notable example) cannot handle dup'ed file
776	descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing
777	to the same underlying file/socket/etc. description (that is, they share
778	the same underlying "file open").
779
780	If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend	1109	If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend
781	(at the time of this writing, this includes only C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and	1110	(at the time of this writing, this includes only C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and
782	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>).	1111	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>).
783		1112
784	Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to	1113	Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
785	receive "spurious" readyness notifications, that is your callback might	1114	receive "spurious" readiness notifications, that is your callback might
786	be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block	1115	be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block
787	because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a	1116	because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a
788	lot of those (for example solaris ports), it is very easy to get into	1117	lot of those (for example Solaris ports), it is very easy to get into
789	this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus	1118	this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus
790	it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning	1119	it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning
791	C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.	1120	C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.
792		1121
793	If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not	1122	If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not
794	play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test	1123	play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to separately re-test
795	wether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface	1124	whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
796	such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on	1125	such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on
797	its own, so its quite safe to use).	1126	its own, so its quite safe to use).
798		1127
		1128	=head3 The special problem of disappearing file descriptors
		1129
		1130	Some backends (e.g. kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file
		1131	descriptor (either by calling C<close> explicitly or by any other means,
		1132	such as C<dup>). The reason is that you register interest in some file
		1133	descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop
		1134	this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is
		1135	registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in
		1136	fact, a different file descriptor.
		1137
		1138	To avoid having to explicitly tell libev about such cases, libev follows
		1139	the following policy: Each time C<ev_io_set> is being called, libev
		1140	will assume that this is potentially a new file descriptor, otherwise
		1141	it is assumed that the file descriptor stays the same. That means that
		1142	you I<have> to call C<ev_io_set> (or C<ev_io_init>) when you change the
		1143	descriptor even if the file descriptor number itself did not change.
		1144
		1145	This is how one would do it normally anyway, the important point is that
		1146	the libev application should not optimise around libev but should leave
		1147	optimisations to libev.
		1148
		1149	=head3 The special problem of dup'ed file descriptors
		1150
		1151	Some backends (e.g. epoll), cannot register events for file descriptors,
		1152	but only events for the underlying file descriptions. That means when you
		1153	have C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors or weirder constellations, and register
		1154	events for them, only one file descriptor might actually receive events.
		1155
		1156	There is no workaround possible except not registering events
		1157	for potentially C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors, or to resort to
		1158	C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
		1159
		1160	=head3 The special problem of fork
		1161
		1162	Some backends (epoll, kqueue) do not support C<fork ()> at all or exhibit
		1163	useless behaviour. Libev fully supports fork, but needs to be told about
		1164	it in the child.
		1165
		1166	To support fork in your programs, you either have to call
		1167	C<ev_default_fork ()> or C<ev_loop_fork ()> after a fork in the child,
		1168	enable C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>, or resort to C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or
		1169	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
		1170
		1171	=head3 The special problem of SIGPIPE
		1172
		1173	While not really specific to libev, it is easy to forget about SIGPIPE:
		1174	when writing to a pipe whose other end has been closed, your program gets
		1175	send a SIGPIPE, which, by default, aborts your program. For most programs
		1176	this is sensible behaviour, for daemons, this is usually undesirable.
		1177
		1178	So when you encounter spurious, unexplained daemon exits, make sure you
		1179	ignore SIGPIPE (and maybe make sure you log the exit status of your daemon
		1180	somewhere, as that would have given you a big clue).
		1181
		1182
		1183	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions
		1184
799	=over 4	1185	=over 4
800		1186
801	=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)	1187	=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)
802		1188
803	=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)	1189	=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)
804		1190
805	Configures an C<ev_io> watcher. The C<fd> is the file descriptor to	1191	Configures an C<ev_io> watcher. The C<fd> is the file descriptor to
806	rceeive events for and events is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or	1192	receive events for and events is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or
807	C<EV_READ | EV_WRITE> to receive the given events.	1193	C<EV_READ | EV_WRITE> to receive the given events.
808		1194
809	=item int fd [read-only]	1195	=item int fd [read-only]
810		1196
811	The file descriptor being watched.	1197	The file descriptor being watched.
…		…
814		1200
815	The events being watched.	1201	The events being watched.
816		1202
817	=back	1203	=back
818		1204
		1205	=head3 Examples
		1206
819	Example: call C<stdin_readable_cb> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well	1207	Example: Call C<stdin_readable_cb> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well
820	readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could	1208	readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could
821	attempt to read a whole line in the callback:	1209	attempt to read a whole line in the callback.
822		1210
823	static void	1211	static void
824	stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)	1212	stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
825	{	1213	{
826	ev_io_stop (loop, w);	1214	ev_io_stop (loop, w);
827	.. read from stdin here (or from w->fd) and haqndle any I/O errors	1215	.. read from stdin here (or from w->fd) and haqndle any I/O errors
828	}	1216	}
829		1217
830	...	1218	...
831	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);	1219	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
832	struct ev_io stdin_readable;	1220	struct ev_io stdin_readable;
833	ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);	1221	ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
834	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);	1222	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);
835	ev_loop (loop, 0);	1223	ev_loop (loop, 0);
836		1224
837		1225
838	=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts	1226	=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts
839		1227
840	Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a	1228	Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a
841	given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.	1229	given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.
842		1230
843	The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that	1231	The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that
844	times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to last years	1232	times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to January last
845	time, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. "Roughly" because	1233	year, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. "Roughly" because
846	detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the	1234	detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the
847	monotonic clock option helps a lot here).	1235	monotonic clock option helps a lot here).
		1236
		1237	The callback is guaranteed to be invoked only after its timeout has passed,
		1238	but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then
		1239	order of execution is undefined.
		1240
		1241	=head3 The special problem of time updates
		1242
		1243	Establishing the current time is a costly operation (it usually takes at
		1244	least two system calls): EV therefore updates its idea of the current
		1245	time only before and after C<ev_loop> polls for new events, which causes
		1246	a growing difference between C<ev_now ()> and C<ev_time ()> when handling
		1247	lots of events.
848		1248
849	The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>	1249	The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>
850	time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time	1250	time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time
851	of the event triggering whatever timeout you are modifying/starting. If	1251	of the event triggering whatever timeout you are modifying/starting. If
852	you suspect event processing to be delayed and you I<need> to base the timeout	1252	you suspect event processing to be delayed and you I<need> to base the
853	on the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:	1253	timeout on the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:
854		1254
855	ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);	1255	ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);
856		1256
857	The callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when its timeout has passed,	1257	If the event loop is suspended for a long time, you can also force an
858	but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then	1258	update of the time returned by C<ev_now ()> by calling C<ev_now_update
859	order of execution is undefined.	1259	()>.
		1260
		1261	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
860		1262
861	=over 4	1263	=over 4
862		1264
863	=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)	1265	=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)
864		1266
865	=item ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)	1267	=item ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)
866		1268
867	Configure the timer to trigger after C<after> seconds. If C<repeat> is	1269	Configure the timer to trigger after C<after> seconds. If C<repeat>
868	C<0.>, then it will automatically be stopped. If it is positive, then the	1270	is C<0.>, then it will automatically be stopped once the timeout is
869	timer will automatically be configured to trigger again C<repeat> seconds	1271	reached. If it is positive, then the timer will automatically be
870	later, again, and again, until stopped manually.	1272	configured to trigger again C<repeat> seconds later, again, and again,
		1273	until stopped manually.
871		1274
872	The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if you	1275	The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if
873	configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will trigger at	1276	you configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will normally
874	exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot keep up with	1277	trigger at exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot
875	the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to do stuff) the	1278	keep up with the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to
876	timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.	1279	do stuff) the timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.
877		1280
878	=item ev_timer_again (loop)	1281	=item ev_timer_again (loop, ev_timer *)
879		1282
880	This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is	1283	This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
881	repeating. The exact semantics are:	1284	repeating. The exact semantics are:
882		1285
		1286	If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.
		1287
883	If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it.	1288	If the timer is started but non-repeating, stop it (as if it timed out).
884		1289
885	If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the repeat	1290	If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the
886	value), or reset the running timer to the repeat value.	1291	C<repeat> value), or reset the running timer to the C<repeat> value.
887		1292
888	This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical	1293	This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical
889	example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called	1294	example: Imagine you have a TCP connection and you want a so-called idle
890	idle timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been,	1295	timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60
891	say, 60 seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do	1296	seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to
892	this is to configure an C<ev_timer> with C<after>=C<repeat>=C<60> and calling	1297	configure an C<ev_timer> with a C<repeat> value of C<60> and then call
893	C<ev_timer_again> each time you successfully read or write some data. If	1298	C<ev_timer_again> each time you successfully read or write some data. If
894	you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the	1299	you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the
895	socket, you can stop the timer, and again will automatically restart it if	1300	socket, you can C<ev_timer_stop> the timer, and C<ev_timer_again> will
896	need be.	1301	automatically restart it if need be.
897		1302
898	You can also ignore the C<after> value and C<ev_timer_start> altogether	1303	That means you can ignore the C<after> value and C<ev_timer_start>
899	and only ever use the C<repeat> value:	1304	altogether and only ever use the C<repeat> value and C<ev_timer_again>:
900		1305
901	ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);	1306	ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);
902	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);	1307	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
903	...	1308	...
904	timer->again = 17.;	1309	timer->again = 17.;
905	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);	1310	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
906	...	1311	...
907	timer->again = 10.;	1312	timer->again = 10.;
908	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);	1313	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
909		1314
910	This is more efficient then stopping/starting the timer eahc time you want	1315	This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time
911	to modify its timeout value.	1316	you want to modify its timeout value.
912		1317
913	=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]	1318	=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]
914		1319
915	The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out	1320	The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
916	or C<ev_timer_again> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),	1321	or C<ev_timer_again> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),
917	which is also when any modifications are taken into account.	1322	which is also when any modifications are taken into account.
918		1323
919	=back	1324	=back
920		1325
		1326	=head3 Examples
		1327
921	Example: create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.	1328	Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.
922		1329
923	static void	1330	static void
924	one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	1331	one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
925	{	1332	{
926	.. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here	1333	.. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here
927	}	1334	}
928		1335
929	struct ev_timer mytimer;	1336	struct ev_timer mytimer;
930	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);	1337	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);
931	ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);	1338	ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);
932		1339
933	Example: create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of	1340	Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
934	inactivity.	1341	inactivity.
935		1342
936	static void	1343	static void
937	timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	1344	timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
938	{	1345	{
939	.. ten seconds without any activity	1346	.. ten seconds without any activity
940	}	1347	}
941		1348
942	struct ev_timer mytimer;	1349	struct ev_timer mytimer;
943	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */	1350	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */
944	ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */	1351	ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */
945	ev_loop (loop, 0);	1352	ev_loop (loop, 0);
946		1353
947	// and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":	1354	// and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":
948	// reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds	1355	// reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds
949	ev_timer_again (&mytimer);	1356	ev_timer_again (&mytimer);
950		1357
951		1358
952	=head2 C<ev_periodic> - to cron or not to cron?	1359	=head2 C<ev_periodic> - to cron or not to cron?
953		1360
954	Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile	1361	Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile
955	(and unfortunately a bit complex).	1362	(and unfortunately a bit complex).
956		1363
957	Unlike C<ev_timer>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time)	1364	Unlike C<ev_timer>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time)
958	but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher	1365	but on wall clock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher
959	to trigger "at" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a	1366	to trigger after some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a
960	periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. C<ev_now ()	1367	periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifying e.g. C<ev_now ()
961	+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will	1368	+ 10.>, that is, an absolute time not a delay) and then reset your system
		1369	clock to January of the previous year, then it will take more than year
962	take a year to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would trigger	1370	to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would still trigger
963	roughly 10 seconds later and of course not if you reset your system time	1371	roughly 10 seconds later as it uses a relative timeout).
964	again).
965		1372
966	They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as	1373	C<ev_periodic>s can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers,
967	triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time.	1374	such as triggering an event on each "midnight, local time", or other
		1375	complicated, rules.
968		1376
969	As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the	1377	As with timers, the callback is guaranteed to be invoked only when the
970	time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready	1378	time (C<at>) has passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
971	during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.	1379	during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.
		1380
		1381	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
972		1382
973	=over 4	1383	=over 4
974		1384
975	=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)	1385	=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)
976		1386
…		…
979	Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of	1389	Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of
980	operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:	1390	operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:
981		1391
982	=over 4	1392	=over 4
983		1393
984	=item * absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0)	1394	=item * absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)
985		1395
986	In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time	1396	In this configuration the watcher triggers an event after the wall clock
987	C<at> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs,	1397	time C<at> has passed and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time
988	that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the	1398	jump occurs, that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will
989	system time reaches or surpasses this time.	1399	run when the system time reaches or surpasses this time.
990		1400
991	=item * non-repeating interval timer (interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)	1401	=item * repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)
992		1402
993	In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next	1403	In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next
994	C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N) and then repeat, regardless	1404	C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)
995	of any time jumps.	1405	and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps.
996		1406
997	This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system	1407	This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system
998	time:	1408	time, for example, here is a C<ev_periodic> that triggers each hour, on
		1409	the hour:
999		1410
1000	ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);	1411	ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);
1001		1412
1002	This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers,	1413	This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers,
1003	but only that the the callback will be called when the system time shows a	1414	but only that the callback will be called when the system time shows a
1004	full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible	1415	full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible
1005	by 3600.	1416	by 3600.
1006		1417
1007	Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that	1418	Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
1008	C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible	1419	C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
1009	time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.	1420	time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.
1010		1421
		1422	For numerical stability it is preferable that the C<at> value is near
		1423	C<ev_now ()> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
		1424	this value, and in fact is often specified as zero.
		1425
		1426	Note also that there is an upper limit to how often a timer can fire (CPU
		1427	speed for example), so if C<interval> is very small then timing stability
		1428	will of course deteriorate. Libev itself tries to be exact to be about one
		1429	millisecond (if the OS supports it and the machine is fast enough).
		1430
1011	=item * manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback)	1431	=item * manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)
1012		1432
1013	In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being	1433	In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being
1014	ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the	1434	ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
1015	reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the	1435	reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
1016	current time as second argument.	1436	current time as second argument.
1017		1437
1018	NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,	1438	NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,
1019	ever, or make any event loop modifications>. If you need to stop it,	1439	ever, or make ANY event loop modifications whatsoever>.
1020	return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
1021	starting a prepare watcher).
1022		1440
		1441	If you need to stop it, return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop
		1442	it afterwards (e.g. by starting an C<ev_prepare> watcher, which is the
		1443	only event loop modification you are allowed to do).
		1444
1023	Its prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,	1445	The callback prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic
1024	ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:	1446	*w, ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:
1025		1447
1026	static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)	1448	static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1027	{	1449	{
1028	return now + 60.;	1450	return now + 60.;
1029	}	1451	}
…		…
1031	It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value	1453	It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value
1032	(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It	1454	(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It
1033	will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but	1455	will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but
1034	might be called at other times, too.	1456	might be called at other times, too.
1035		1457
1036	NOTE: I<< This callback must always return a time that is later than the	1458	NOTE: I<< This callback must always return a time that is higher than or
1037	passed C<now> value >>. Not even C<now> itself will do, it I<must> be larger.	1459	equal to the passed C<now> value >>.
1038		1460
1039	This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that	1461	This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that
1040	triggers on each midnight, local time. To do this, you would calculate the	1462	triggers on "next midnight, local time". To do this, you would calculate the
1041	next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How	1463	next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How
1042	you do this is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial, which is the main	1464	you do this is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial, which is the main
1043	reason I omitted it as an example).	1465	reason I omitted it as an example).
1044		1466
1045	=back	1467	=back
…		…
1049	Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful	1471	Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
1050	when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return	1472	when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return
1051	a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like	1473	a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
1052	program when the crontabs have changed).	1474	program when the crontabs have changed).
1053		1475
		1476	=item ev_tstamp ev_periodic_at (ev_periodic *)
		1477
		1478	When active, returns the absolute time that the watcher is supposed to
		1479	trigger next.
		1480
		1481	=item ev_tstamp offset [read-write]
		1482
		1483	When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
		1484	absolute point in time (the C<at> value passed to C<ev_periodic_set>).
		1485
		1486	Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
		1487	timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
		1488
1054	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]	1489	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]
1055		1490
1056	The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only	1491	The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1057	take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being	1492	take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being
1058	called.	1493	called.
…		…
1063	switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when	1498	switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
1064	the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.	1499	the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1065		1500
1066	=back	1501	=back
1067		1502
		1503	=head3 Examples
		1504
1068	Example: call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the	1505	Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
1069	system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have	1506	system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
1070	potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.	1507	potentially a lot of jitter, but good long-term stability.
1071		1508
1072	static void	1509	static void
1073	clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)	1510	clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
1074	{	1511	{
1075	... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)	1512	... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)
1076	}	1513	}
1077		1514
1078	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;	1515	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1079	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);	1516	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);
1080	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);	1517	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1081		1518
1082	Example: the same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:	1519	Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:
1083		1520
1084	#include <math.h>	1521	#include <math.h>
1085		1522
1086	static ev_tstamp	1523	static ev_tstamp
1087	my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)	1524	my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1088	{	1525	{
1089	return fmod (now, 3600.) + 3600.;	1526	return fmod (now, 3600.) + 3600.;
1090	}	1527	}
1091		1528
1092	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);	1529	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);
1093		1530
1094	Example: call a callback every hour, starting now:	1531	Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:
1095		1532
1096	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;	1533	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1097	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,	1534	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,
1098	fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);	1535	fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);
1099	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);	1536	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1100		1537
1101		1538
1102	=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!	1539	=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!
1103		1540
1104	Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific	1541	Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
…		…
1111	with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long	1548	with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long
1112	as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal	1549	as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal
1113	watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to	1550	watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to
1114	SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before).	1551	SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before).
1115		1552
		1553	If possible and supported, libev will install its handlers with
		1554	C<SA_RESTART> behaviour enabled, so system calls should not be unduly
		1555	interrupted. If you have a problem with system calls getting interrupted by
		1556	signals you can block all signals in an C<ev_check> watcher and unblock
		1557	them in an C<ev_prepare> watcher.
		1558
		1559	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		1560
1116	=over 4	1561	=over 4
1117		1562
1118	=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)	1563	=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)
1119		1564
1120	=item ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)	1565	=item ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)
…		…
1126		1571
1127	The signal the watcher watches out for.	1572	The signal the watcher watches out for.
1128		1573
1129	=back	1574	=back
1130		1575
		1576	=head3 Examples
		1577
		1578	Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.
		1579
		1580	static void
		1581	sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)
		1582	{
		1583	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
		1584	}
		1585
		1586	struct ev_signal signal_watcher;
		1587	ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);
		1588	ev_signal_start (loop, &sigint_cb);
		1589
1131		1590
1132	=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes	1591	=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes
1133		1592
1134	Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to	1593	Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to
1135	some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).	1594	some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies). It
		1595	is permissible to install a child watcher I<after> the child has been
		1596	forked (which implies it might have already exited), as long as the event
		1597	loop isn't entered (or is continued from a watcher).
		1598
		1599	Only the default event loop is capable of handling signals, and therefore
		1600	you can only register child watchers in the default event loop.
		1601
		1602	=head3 Process Interaction
		1603
		1604	Libev grabs C<SIGCHLD> as soon as the default event loop is
		1605	initialised. This is necessary to guarantee proper behaviour even if
		1606	the first child watcher is started after the child exits. The occurrence
		1607	of C<SIGCHLD> is recorded asynchronously, but child reaping is done
		1608	synchronously as part of the event loop processing. Libev always reaps all
		1609	children, even ones not watched.
		1610
		1611	=head3 Overriding the Built-In Processing
		1612
		1613	Libev offers no special support for overriding the built-in child
		1614	processing, but if your application collides with libev's default child
		1615	handler, you can override it easily by installing your own handler for
		1616	C<SIGCHLD> after initialising the default loop, and making sure the
		1617	default loop never gets destroyed. You are encouraged, however, to use an
		1618	event-based approach to child reaping and thus use libev's support for
		1619	that, so other libev users can use C<ev_child> watchers freely.
		1620
		1621	=head3 Stopping the Child Watcher
		1622
		1623	Currently, the child watcher never gets stopped, even when the
		1624	child terminates, so normally one needs to stop the watcher in the
		1625	callback. Future versions of libev might stop the watcher automatically
		1626	when a child exit is detected.
		1627
		1628	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1136		1629
1137	=over 4	1630	=over 4
1138		1631
1139	=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)	1632	=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid, int trace)
1140		1633
1141	=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)	1634	=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid, int trace)
1142		1635
1143	Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or	1636	Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or
1144	I<any> process if C<pid> is specified as C<0>). The callback can look	1637	I<any> process if C<pid> is specified as C<0>). The callback can look
1145	at the C<rstatus> member of the C<ev_child> watcher structure to see	1638	at the C<rstatus> member of the C<ev_child> watcher structure to see
1146	the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h> and see your systems	1639	the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h> and see your systems
1147	C<waitpid> documentation). The C<rpid> member contains the pid of the	1640	C<waitpid> documentation). The C<rpid> member contains the pid of the
1148	process causing the status change.	1641	process causing the status change. C<trace> must be either C<0> (only
		1642	activate the watcher when the process terminates) or C<1> (additionally
		1643	activate the watcher when the process is stopped or continued).
1149		1644
1150	=item int pid [read-only]	1645	=item int pid [read-only]
1151		1646
1152	The process id this watcher watches out for, or C<0>, meaning any process id.	1647	The process id this watcher watches out for, or C<0>, meaning any process id.
1153		1648
…		…
1160	The process exit/trace status caused by C<rpid> (see your systems	1655	The process exit/trace status caused by C<rpid> (see your systems
1161	C<waitpid> and C<sys/wait.h> documentation for details).	1656	C<waitpid> and C<sys/wait.h> documentation for details).
1162		1657
1163	=back	1658	=back
1164		1659
1165	Example: try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.	1660	=head3 Examples
1166		1661
		1662	Example: C<fork()> a new process and install a child handler to wait for
		1663	its completion.
		1664
		1665	ev_child cw;
		1666
1167	static void	1667	static void
1168	sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)	1668	child_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_child *w, int revents)
1169	{	1669	{
1170	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);	1670	ev_child_stop (EV_A_ w);
		1671	printf ("process %d exited with status %x\n", w->rpid, w->rstatus);
1171	}	1672	}
1172		1673
1173	struct ev_signal signal_watcher;	1674	pid_t pid = fork ();
1174	ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);	1675
1175	ev_signal_start (loop, &sigint_cb);	1676	if (pid < 0)
		1677	// error
		1678	else if (pid == 0)
		1679	{
		1680	// the forked child executes here
		1681	exit (1);
		1682	}
		1683	else
		1684	{
		1685	ev_child_init (&cw, child_cb, pid, 0);
		1686	ev_child_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &cw);
		1687	}
1176		1688
1177		1689
1178	=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?	1690	=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?
1179		1691
1180	This watches a filesystem path for attribute changes. That is, it calls	1692	This watches a file system path for attribute changes. That is, it calls
1181	C<stat> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed	1693	C<stat> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed
1182	compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.	1694	compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.
1183		1695
1184	The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does	1696	The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does
1185	not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does	1697	not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does
1186	not exist" is signified by the C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is	1698	not exist" is signified by the C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is
1187	otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of	1699	otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of
1188	the stat buffer having unspecified contents.	1700	the stat buffer having unspecified contents.
1189		1701
		1702	The path I<should> be absolute and I<must not> end in a slash. If it is
		1703	relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.
		1704
1190	Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply	1705	Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply
1191	calls C<stat (2)> regulalry on the path to see if it changed somehow. You	1706	calls C<stat (2)> regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You
1192	can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify	1707	can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify
1193	a polling interval of C<0> (highly recommended!) then a I<suitable,	1708	a polling interval of C<0> (highly recommended!) then a I<suitable,
1194	unspecified default> value will be used (which you can expect to be around	1709	unspecified default> value will be used (which you can expect to be around
1195	five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also	1710	five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also
1196	impose a minimum interval which is currently around C<0.1>, but thats	1711	impose a minimum interval which is currently around C<0.1>, but thats
…		…
1198		1713
1199	This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,	1714	This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,
1200	as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be	1715	as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be
1201	resource-intensive.	1716	resource-intensive.
1202		1717
1203	At the time of this writing, no specific OS backends are implemented, but	1718	At the time of this writing, only the Linux inotify interface is
1204	if demand increases, at least a kqueue and inotify backend will be added.	1719	implemented (implementing kqueue support is left as an exercise for the
		1720	reader, note, however, that the author sees no way of implementing ev_stat
		1721	semantics with kqueue). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should
		1722	not change the semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers, which means that libev
		1723	sometimes needs to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify,
		1724	but changes are usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there
		1725	will be no polling.
		1726
		1727	=head3 ABI Issues (Largefile Support)
		1728
		1729	Libev by default (unless the user overrides this) uses the default
		1730	compilation environment, which means that on systems with large file
		1731	support disabled by default, you get the 32 bit version of the stat
		1732	structure. When using the library from programs that change the ABI to
		1733	use 64 bit file offsets the programs will fail. In that case you have to
		1734	compile libev with the same flags to get binary compatibility. This is
		1735	obviously the case with any flags that change the ABI, but the problem is
		1736	most noticeably disabled with ev_stat and large file support.
		1737
		1738	The solution for this is to lobby your distribution maker to make large
		1739	file interfaces available by default (as e.g. FreeBSD does) and not
		1740	optional. Libev cannot simply switch on large file support because it has
		1741	to exchange stat structures with application programs compiled using the
		1742	default compilation environment.
		1743
		1744	=head3 Inotify
		1745
		1746	When C<inotify (7)> support has been compiled into libev (generally only
		1747	available on Linux) and present at runtime, it will be used to speed up
		1748	change detection where possible. The inotify descriptor will be created lazily
		1749	when the first C<ev_stat> watcher is being started.
		1750
		1751	Inotify presence does not change the semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers
		1752	except that changes might be detected earlier, and in some cases, to avoid
		1753	making regular C<stat> calls. Even in the presence of inotify support
		1754	there are many cases where libev has to resort to regular C<stat> polling.
		1755
		1756	(There is no support for kqueue, as apparently it cannot be used to
		1757	implement this functionality, due to the requirement of having a file
		1758	descriptor open on the object at all times).
		1759
		1760	=head3 The special problem of stat time resolution
		1761
		1762	The C<stat ()> system call only supports full-second resolution portably, and
		1763	even on systems where the resolution is higher, many file systems still
		1764	only support whole seconds.
		1765
		1766	That means that, if the time is the only thing that changes, you can
		1767	easily miss updates: on the first update, C<ev_stat> detects a change and
		1768	calls your callback, which does something. When there is another update
		1769	within the same second, C<ev_stat> will be unable to detect it as the stat
		1770	data does not change.
		1771
		1772	The solution to this is to delay acting on a change for slightly more
		1773	than a second (or till slightly after the next full second boundary), using
		1774	a roughly one-second-delay C<ev_timer> (e.g. C<ev_timer_set (w, 0., 1.02);
		1775	ev_timer_again (loop, w)>).
		1776
		1777	The C<.02> offset is added to work around small timing inconsistencies
		1778	of some operating systems (where the second counter of the current time
		1779	might be be delayed. One such system is the Linux kernel, where a call to
		1780	C<gettimeofday> might return a timestamp with a full second later than
		1781	a subsequent C<time> call - if the equivalent of C<time ()> is used to
		1782	update file times then there will be a small window where the kernel uses
		1783	the previous second to update file times but libev might already execute
		1784	the timer callback).
		1785
		1786	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1205		1787
1206	=over 4	1788	=over 4
1207		1789
1208	=item ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)	1790	=item ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)
1209		1791
…		…
1213	C<path>. The C<interval> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to	1795	C<path>. The C<interval> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to
1214	be detected and should normally be specified as C<0> to let libev choose	1796	be detected and should normally be specified as C<0> to let libev choose
1215	a suitable value. The memory pointed to by C<path> must point to the same	1797	a suitable value. The memory pointed to by C<path> must point to the same
1216	path for as long as the watcher is active.	1798	path for as long as the watcher is active.
1217		1799
1218	The callback will be receive C<EV_STAT> when a change was detected,	1800	The callback will receive C<EV_STAT> when a change was detected, relative
1219	relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the	1801	to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the last change
1220	last change was detected).	1802	was detected).
1221		1803
1222	=item ev_stat_stat (ev_stat *)	1804	=item ev_stat_stat (loop, ev_stat *)
1223		1805
1224	Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the	1806	Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the
1225	watched path in your callback, you could call this fucntion to avoid	1807	watched path in your callback, you could call this function to avoid
1226	detecting this change (while introducing a race condition). Can also be	1808	detecting this change (while introducing a race condition if you are not
1227	useful simply to find out the new values.	1809	the only one changing the path). Can also be useful simply to find out the
		1810	new values.
1228		1811
1229	=item ev_statdata attr [read-only]	1812	=item ev_statdata attr [read-only]
1230		1813
1231	The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is of	1814	The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is
1232	C<ev_statdata>, this is usually the (or one of the) C<struct stat> types	1815	C<ev_statdata>, this is usually the (or one of the) C<struct stat> types
1233	suitable for your system. If the C<st_nlink> member is C<0>, then there	1816	suitable for your system, but you can only rely on the POSIX-standardised
		1817	members to be present. If the C<st_nlink> member is C<0>, then there was
1234	was some error while C<stat>ing the file.	1818	some error while C<stat>ing the file.
1235		1819
1236	=item ev_statdata prev [read-only]	1820	=item ev_statdata prev [read-only]
1237		1821
1238	The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever	1822	The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever
1239	C<prev> != C<attr>.	1823	C<prev> != C<attr>, or, more precisely, one or more of these members
		1824	differ: C<st_dev>, C<st_ino>, C<st_mode>, C<st_nlink>, C<st_uid>,
		1825	C<st_gid>, C<st_rdev>, C<st_size>, C<st_atime>, C<st_mtime>, C<st_ctime>.
1240		1826
1241	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-only]	1827	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-only]
1242		1828
1243	The specified interval.	1829	The specified interval.
1244		1830
1245	=item const char *path [read-only]	1831	=item const char *path [read-only]
1246		1832
1247	The filesystem path that is being watched.	1833	The file system path that is being watched.
1248		1834
1249	=back	1835	=back
1250		1836
		1837	=head3 Examples
		1838
1251	Example: Watch C</etc/passwd> for attribute changes.	1839	Example: Watch C</etc/passwd> for attribute changes.
1252		1840
1253	static void	1841	static void
1254	passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)	1842	passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)
1255	{	1843	{
1256	/* /etc/passwd changed in some way */	1844	/* /etc/passwd changed in some way */
1257	if (w->attr.st_nlink)	1845	if (w->attr.st_nlink)
1258	{	1846	{
1259	printf ("passwd current size %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_size);	1847	printf ("passwd current size %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_size);
1260	printf ("passwd current atime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);	1848	printf ("passwd current atime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1261	printf ("passwd current mtime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);	1849	printf ("passwd current mtime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1262	}	1850	}
1263	else	1851	else
1264	/* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */	1852	/* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */
1265	puts ("wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. "	1853	puts ("wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. "
1266	"if this is windows, they already arrived\n");	1854	"if this is windows, they already arrived\n");
1267	}	1855	}
1268		1856
1269	...	1857	...
1270	ev_stat passwd;	1858	ev_stat passwd;
1271		1859
1272	ev_stat_init (&passwd, passwd_cb, "/etc/passwd");	1860	ev_stat_init (&passwd, passwd_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);
1273	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);	1861	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
		1862
		1863	Example: Like above, but additionally use a one-second delay so we do not
		1864	miss updates (however, frequent updates will delay processing, too, so
		1865	one might do the work both on C<ev_stat> callback invocation I<and> on
		1866	C<ev_timer> callback invocation).
		1867
		1868	static ev_stat passwd;
		1869	static ev_timer timer;
		1870
		1871	static void
		1872	timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
		1873	{
		1874	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ w);
		1875
		1876	/* now it's one second after the most recent passwd change */
		1877	}
		1878
		1879	static void
		1880	stat_cb (EV_P_ ev_stat *w, int revents)
		1881	{
		1882	/* reset the one-second timer */
		1883	ev_timer_again (EV_A_ &timer);
		1884	}
		1885
		1886	...
		1887	ev_stat_init (&passwd, stat_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);
		1888	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
		1889	ev_timer_init (&timer, timer_cb, 0., 1.02);
1274		1890
1275		1891
1276	=head2 C<ev_idle> - when you've got nothing better to do...	1892	=head2 C<ev_idle> - when you've got nothing better to do...
1277		1893
1278	Idle watchers trigger events when there are no other events are pending	1894	Idle watchers trigger events when no other events of the same or higher
1279	(prepare, check and other idle watchers do not count). That is, as long	1895	priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not
1280	as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts (or even signals,	1896	count).
1281	imagine) it will not be triggered. But when your process is idle all idle	1897
1282	watchers are being called again and again, once per event loop iteration -	1898	That is, as long as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts
		1899	(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be
		1900	triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers
		1901	are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop
1283	until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events and becomes	1902	iteration - until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events
1284	busy.	1903	and becomes busy again with higher priority stuff.
1285		1904
1286	The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are	1905	The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are
1287	active, the process will not block when waiting for new events.	1906	active, the process will not block when waiting for new events.
1288		1907
1289	Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful	1908	Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful
1290	effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do	1909	effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do
1291	"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the	1910	"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the
1292	event loop has handled all outstanding events.	1911	event loop has handled all outstanding events.
1293		1912
		1913	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		1914
1294	=over 4	1915	=over 4
1295		1916
1296	=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)	1917	=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)
1297		1918
1298	Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any	1919	Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any
1299	kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,	1920	kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1300	believe me.	1921	believe me.
1301		1922
1302	=back	1923	=back
1303		1924
		1925	=head3 Examples
		1926
1304	Example: dynamically allocate an C<ev_idle>, start it, and in the	1927	Example: Dynamically allocate an C<ev_idle> watcher, start it, and in the
1305	callback, free it. Alos, use no error checking, as usual.	1928	callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.
1306		1929
1307	static void	1930	static void
1308	idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)	1931	idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)
1309	{	1932	{
1310	free (w);	1933	free (w);
1311	// now do something you wanted to do when the program has	1934	// now do something you wanted to do when the program has
1312	// no longer asnything immediate to do.	1935	// no longer anything immediate to do.
1313	}	1936	}
1314		1937
1315	struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle));	1938	struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle));
1316	ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);	1939	ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);
1317	ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb);	1940	ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb);
1318		1941
1319		1942
1320	=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!	1943	=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!
1321		1944
1322	Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:	1945	Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:
…		…
1341		1964
1342	This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need	1965	This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need
1343	to be watched by the other library, registering C<ev_io> watchers for	1966	to be watched by the other library, registering C<ev_io> watchers for
1344	them and starting an C<ev_timer> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries	1967	them and starting an C<ev_timer> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries
1345	provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for	1968	provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for
1346	any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers	1969	any events that occurred (by checking the pending status of all watchers
1347	and stopping them) and call back into the library. The I/O and timer	1970	and stopping them) and call back into the library. The I/O and timer
1348	callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid nevertheless,	1971	callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid nevertheless,
1349	because you never know, you know?).	1972	because you never know, you know?).
1350		1973
1351	As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate	1974	As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate
…		…
1355	with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine	1978	with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine
1356	of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event	1979	of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
1357	loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping	1980	loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
1358	low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).	1981	low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).
1359		1982
		1983	It is recommended to give C<ev_check> watchers highest (C<EV_MAXPRI>)
		1984	priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers
		1985	after the poll. Also, C<ev_check> watchers (and C<ev_prepare> watchers,
		1986	too) should not activate ("feed") events into libev. While libev fully
		1987	supports this, they might get executed before other C<ev_check> watchers
		1988	did their job. As C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other
		1989	(non-libev) event loops those other event loops might be in an unusable
		1990	state until their C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to
		1991	coexist peacefully with others).
		1992
		1993	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		1994
1360	=over 4	1995	=over 4
1361		1996
1362	=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)	1997	=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)
1363		1998
1364	=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)	1999	=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)
…		…
1367	parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set>	2002	parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set>
1368	macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.	2003	macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.
1369		2004
1370	=back	2005	=back
1371		2006
1372	Example: To include a library such as adns, you would add IO watchers	2007	=head3 Examples
1373	and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler, as required by libadns, and	2008
		2009	There are a number of principal ways to embed other event loops or modules
		2010	into libev. Here are some ideas on how to include libadns into libev
		2011	(there is a Perl module named C<EV::ADNS> that does this, which you could
		2012	use as a working example. Another Perl module named C<EV::Glib> embeds a
		2013	Glib main context into libev, and finally, C<Glib::EV> embeds EV into the
		2014	Glib event loop).
		2015
		2016	Method 1: Add IO watchers and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler,
1374	in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows is	2017	and in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows
1375	pseudo-code only of course:	2018	is pseudo-code only of course. This requires you to either use a low
		2019	priority for the check watcher or use C<ev_clear_pending> explicitly, as
		2020	the callbacks for the IO/timeout watchers might not have been called yet.
1376		2021
1377	static ev_io iow [nfd];	2022	static ev_io iow [nfd];
1378	static ev_timer tw;	2023	static ev_timer tw;
1379		2024
1380	static void	2025	static void
1381	io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)	2026	io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
1382	{	2027	{
1383	// set the relevant poll flags
1384	// could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
1385	struct pollfd *fd = (struct pollfd *)w->data;
1386	if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
1387	if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
1388	}	2028	}
1389		2029
1390	// create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking	2030	// create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
1391	static void	2031	static void
1392	adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)	2032	adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
1393	{	2033	{
1394	int timeout = 3600000;truct pollfd fds [nfd];	2034	int timeout = 3600000;
		2035	struct pollfd fds [nfd];
1395	// actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.	2036	// actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
1396	adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));	2037	adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
1397		2038
1398	/* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */	2039	/* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
1399	ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);	2040	ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);
1400	ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);	2041	ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);
1401		2042
1402	// create on ev_io per pollfd	2043	// create one ev_io per pollfd
1403	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)	2044	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1404	{	2045	{
1405	ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,	2046	ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,
1406	((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)	2047	((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)
1407	| (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));	2048	| (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));
1408		2049
1409	fds [i].revents = 0;	2050	fds [i].revents = 0;
1410	iow [i].data = fds + i;
1411	ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);	2051	ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);
1412	}	2052	}
1413	}	2053	}
1414		2054
1415	// stop all watchers after blocking	2055	// stop all watchers after blocking
1416	static void	2056	static void
1417	adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)	2057	adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)
1418	{	2058	{
1419	ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);	2059	ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);
1420		2060
1421	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)	2061	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
		2062	{
		2063	// set the relevant poll flags
		2064	// could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
		2065	struct pollfd *fd = fds + i;
		2066	int revents = ev_clear_pending (iow + i);
		2067	if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
		2068	if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
		2069
		2070	// now stop the watcher
1422	ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);	2071	ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
		2072	}
1423		2073
1424	adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));	2074	adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));
1425	}	2075	}
		2076
		2077	Method 2: This would be just like method 1, but you run C<adns_afterpoll>
		2078	in the prepare watcher and would dispose of the check watcher.
		2079
		2080	Method 3: If the module to be embedded supports explicit event
		2081	notification (libadns does), you can also make use of the actual watcher
		2082	callbacks, and only destroy/create the watchers in the prepare watcher.
		2083
		2084	static void
		2085	timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
		2086	{
		2087	adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
		2088	update_now (EV_A);
		2089
		2090	adns_processtimeouts (ads, &tv_now);
		2091	}
		2092
		2093	static void
		2094	io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
		2095	{
		2096	adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
		2097	update_now (EV_A);
		2098
		2099	if (revents & EV_READ ) adns_processreadable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
		2100	if (revents & EV_WRITE) adns_processwriteable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
		2101	}
		2102
		2103	// do not ever call adns_afterpoll
		2104
		2105	Method 4: Do not use a prepare or check watcher because the module you
		2106	want to embed is too inflexible to support it. Instead, you can override
		2107	their poll function. The drawback with this solution is that the main
		2108	loop is now no longer controllable by EV. The C<Glib::EV> module does
		2109	this.
		2110
		2111	static gint
		2112	event_poll_func (GPollFD *fds, guint nfds, gint timeout)
		2113	{
		2114	int got_events = 0;
		2115
		2116	for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
		2117	// create/start io watcher that sets the relevant bits in fds[n] and increment got_events
		2118
		2119	if (timeout >= 0)
		2120	// create/start timer
		2121
		2122	// poll
		2123	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
		2124
		2125	// stop timer again
		2126	if (timeout >= 0)
		2127	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &to);
		2128
		2129	// stop io watchers again - their callbacks should have set
		2130	for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
		2131	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ iow [n]);
		2132
		2133	return got_events;
		2134	}
1426		2135
1427		2136
1428	=head2 C<ev_embed> - when one backend isn't enough...	2137	=head2 C<ev_embed> - when one backend isn't enough...
1429		2138
1430	This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop	2139	This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop
…		…
1472	portable one.	2181	portable one.
1473		2182
1474	So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared	2183	So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared
1475	that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around	2184	that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around
1476	this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to	2185	this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to
1477	create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything:	2186	create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything.
1478		2187
1479	struct ev_loop *loop_hi = ev_default_init (0);	2188	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1480	struct ev_loop *loop_lo = 0;
1481	struct ev_embed embed;
1482
1483	// see if there is a chance of getting one that works
1484	// (remember that a flags value of 0 means autodetection)
1485	loop_lo = ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ()
1486	? ev_loop_new (ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ())
1487	: 0;
1488
1489	// if we got one, then embed it, otherwise default to loop_hi
1490	if (loop_lo)
1491	{
1492	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_lo);
1493	ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);
1494	}
1495	else
1496	loop_lo = loop_hi;
1497		2189
1498	=over 4	2190	=over 4
1499		2191
1500	=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)	2192	=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
1501		2193
…		…
1503		2195
1504	Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be	2196	Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be
1505	embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be	2197	embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be
1506	invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback	2198	invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback
1507	to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,	2199	to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,
1508	if you do not want thta, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).	2200	if you do not want that, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).
1509		2201
1510	=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)	2202	=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)
1511		2203
1512	Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works	2204	Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works
1513	similarly to C<ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)>, but in the most	2205	similarly to C<ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)>, but in the most
1514	apropriate way for embedded loops.	2206	appropriate way for embedded loops.
1515		2207
1516	=item struct ev_loop *loop [read-only]	2208	=item struct ev_loop *other [read-only]
1517		2209
1518	The embedded event loop.	2210	The embedded event loop.
1519		2211
1520	=back	2212	=back
		2213
		2214	=head3 Examples
		2215
		2216	Example: Try to get an embeddable event loop and embed it into the default
		2217	event loop. If that is not possible, use the default loop. The default
		2218	loop is stored in C<loop_hi>, while the embeddable loop is stored in
		2219	C<loop_lo> (which is C<loop_hi> in the case no embeddable loop can be
		2220	used).
		2221
		2222	struct ev_loop *loop_hi = ev_default_init (0);
		2223	struct ev_loop *loop_lo = 0;
		2224	struct ev_embed embed;
		2225
		2226	// see if there is a chance of getting one that works
		2227	// (remember that a flags value of 0 means autodetection)
		2228	loop_lo = ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ()
		2229	? ev_loop_new (ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ())
		2230	: 0;
		2231
		2232	// if we got one, then embed it, otherwise default to loop_hi
		2233	if (loop_lo)
		2234	{
		2235	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_lo);
		2236	ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);
		2237	}
		2238	else
		2239	loop_lo = loop_hi;
		2240
		2241	Example: Check if kqueue is available but not recommended and create
		2242	a kqueue backend for use with sockets (which usually work with any
		2243	kqueue implementation). Store the kqueue/socket-only event loop in
		2244	C<loop_socket>. (One might optionally use C<EVFLAG_NOENV>, too).
		2245
		2246	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
		2247	struct ev_loop *loop_socket = 0;
		2248	struct ev_embed embed;
		2249
		2250	if (ev_supported_backends () & ~ev_recommended_backends () & EVBACKEND_KQUEUE)
		2251	if ((loop_socket = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_KQUEUE))
		2252	{
		2253	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_socket);
		2254	ev_embed_start (loop, &embed);
		2255	}
		2256
		2257	if (!loop_socket)
		2258	loop_socket = loop;
		2259
		2260	// now use loop_socket for all sockets, and loop for everything else
1521		2261
1522		2262
1523	=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork	2263	=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork
1524		2264
1525	Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because	2265	Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because
…		…
1528	event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,	2268	event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,
1529	and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling	2269	and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling
1530	C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork	2270	C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork
1531	handlers will be invoked, too, of course.	2271	handlers will be invoked, too, of course.
1532		2272
		2273	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		2274
1533	=over 4	2275	=over 4
1534		2276
1535	=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)	2277	=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)
1536		2278
1537	Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any	2279	Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
1538	kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,	2280	kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1539	believe me.	2281	believe me.
		2282
		2283	=back
		2284
		2285
		2286	=head2 C<ev_async> - how to wake up another event loop
		2287
		2288	In general, you cannot use an C<ev_loop> from multiple threads or other
		2289	asynchronous sources such as signal handlers (as opposed to multiple event
		2290	loops - those are of course safe to use in different threads).
		2291
		2292	Sometimes, however, you need to wake up another event loop you do not
		2293	control, for example because it belongs to another thread. This is what
		2294	C<ev_async> watchers do: as long as the C<ev_async> watcher is active, you
		2295	can signal it by calling C<ev_async_send>, which is thread- and signal
		2296	safe.
		2297
		2298	This functionality is very similar to C<ev_signal> watchers, as signals,
		2299	too, are asynchronous in nature, and signals, too, will be compressed
		2300	(i.e. the number of callback invocations may be less than the number of
		2301	C<ev_async_sent> calls).
		2302
		2303	Unlike C<ev_signal> watchers, C<ev_async> works with any event loop, not
		2304	just the default loop.
		2305
		2306	=head3 Queueing
		2307
		2308	C<ev_async> does not support queueing of data in any way. The reason
		2309	is that the author does not know of a simple (or any) algorithm for a
		2310	multiple-writer-single-reader queue that works in all cases and doesn't
		2311	need elaborate support such as pthreads.
		2312
		2313	That means that if you want to queue data, you have to provide your own
		2314	queue. But at least I can tell you would implement locking around your
		2315	queue:
		2316
		2317	=over 4
		2318
		2319	=item queueing from a signal handler context
		2320
		2321	To implement race-free queueing, you simply add to the queue in the signal
		2322	handler but you block the signal handler in the watcher callback. Here is an example that does that for
		2323	some fictitious SIGUSR1 handler:
		2324
		2325	static ev_async mysig;
		2326
		2327	static void
		2328	sigusr1_handler (void)
		2329	{
		2330	sometype data;
		2331
		2332	// no locking etc.
		2333	queue_put (data);
		2334	ev_async_send (EV_DEFAULT_ &mysig);
		2335	}
		2336
		2337	static void
		2338	mysig_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
		2339	{
		2340	sometype data;
		2341	sigset_t block, prev;
		2342
		2343	sigemptyset (&block);
		2344	sigaddset (&block, SIGUSR1);
		2345	sigprocmask (SIG_BLOCK, &block, &prev);
		2346
		2347	while (queue_get (&data))
		2348	process (data);
		2349
		2350	if (sigismember (&prev, SIGUSR1)
		2351	sigprocmask (SIG_UNBLOCK, &block, 0);
		2352	}
		2353
		2354	(Note: pthreads in theory requires you to use C<pthread_setmask>
		2355	instead of C<sigprocmask> when you use threads, but libev doesn't do it
		2356	either...).
		2357
		2358	=item queueing from a thread context
		2359
		2360	The strategy for threads is different, as you cannot (easily) block
		2361	threads but you can easily preempt them, so to queue safely you need to
		2362	employ a traditional mutex lock, such as in this pthread example:
		2363
		2364	static ev_async mysig;
		2365	static pthread_mutex_t mymutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
		2366
		2367	static void
		2368	otherthread (void)
		2369	{
		2370	// only need to lock the actual queueing operation
		2371	pthread_mutex_lock (&mymutex);
		2372	queue_put (data);
		2373	pthread_mutex_unlock (&mymutex);
		2374
		2375	ev_async_send (EV_DEFAULT_ &mysig);
		2376	}
		2377
		2378	static void
		2379	mysig_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
		2380	{
		2381	pthread_mutex_lock (&mymutex);
		2382
		2383	while (queue_get (&data))
		2384	process (data);
		2385
		2386	pthread_mutex_unlock (&mymutex);
		2387	}
		2388
		2389	=back
		2390
		2391
		2392	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		2393
		2394	=over 4
		2395
		2396	=item ev_async_init (ev_async *, callback)
		2397
		2398	Initialises and configures the async watcher - it has no parameters of any
		2399	kind. There is a C<ev_asynd_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
		2400	believe me.
		2401
		2402	=item ev_async_send (loop, ev_async *)
		2403
		2404	Sends/signals/activates the given C<ev_async> watcher, that is, feeds
		2405	an C<EV_ASYNC> event on the watcher into the event loop. Unlike
		2406	C<ev_feed_event>, this call is safe to do in other threads, signal or
		2407	similar contexts (see the discussion of C<EV_ATOMIC_T> in the embedding
		2408	section below on what exactly this means).
		2409
		2410	This call incurs the overhead of a system call only once per loop iteration,
		2411	so while the overhead might be noticeable, it doesn't apply to repeated
		2412	calls to C<ev_async_send>.
		2413
		2414	=item bool = ev_async_pending (ev_async *)
		2415
		2416	Returns a non-zero value when C<ev_async_send> has been called on the
		2417	watcher but the event has not yet been processed (or even noted) by the
		2418	event loop.
		2419
		2420	C<ev_async_send> sets a flag in the watcher and wakes up the loop. When
		2421	the loop iterates next and checks for the watcher to have become active,
		2422	it will reset the flag again. C<ev_async_pending> can be used to very
		2423	quickly check whether invoking the loop might be a good idea.
		2424
		2425	Not that this does I<not> check whether the watcher itself is pending, only
		2426	whether it has been requested to make this watcher pending.
1540		2427
1541	=back	2428	=back
1542		2429
1543		2430
1544	=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS	2431	=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS
…		…
1555	or timeout without having to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or	2442	or timeout without having to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or
1556	more watchers yourself.	2443	more watchers yourself.
1557		2444
1558	If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events	2445	If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events
1559	is being ignored. Otherwise, an C<ev_io> watcher for the given C<fd> and	2446	is being ignored. Otherwise, an C<ev_io> watcher for the given C<fd> and
1560	C<events> set will be craeted and started.	2447	C<events> set will be created and started.
1561		2448
1562	If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be	2449	If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be
1563	started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and	2450	started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and
1564	repeat = 0) will be started. While C<0> is a valid timeout, it is of	2451	repeat = 0) will be started. While C<0> is a valid timeout, it is of
1565	dubious value.	2452	dubious value.
…		…
1567	The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and gets	2454	The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and gets
1568	passed an C<revents> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of	2455	passed an C<revents> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of
1569	C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMEOUT>) and the C<arg>	2456	C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMEOUT>) and the C<arg>
1570	value passed to C<ev_once>:	2457	value passed to C<ev_once>:
1571		2458
1572	static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)	2459	static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)
1573	{	2460	{
1574	if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT)	2461	if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT)
1575	/* doh, nothing entered */;	2462	/* doh, nothing entered */;
1576	else if (revents & EV_READ)	2463	else if (revents & EV_READ)
1577	/* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;	2464	/* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;
1578	}	2465	}
1579		2466
1580	ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);	2467	ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);
1581		2468
1582	=item ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)	2469	=item ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)
1583		2470
1584	Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event	2471	Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
1585	had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an	2472	had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
…		…
1590	Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected	2477	Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
1591	the given events it.	2478	the given events it.
1592		2479
1593	=item ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)	2480	=item ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)
1594		2481
1595	Feed an event as if the given signal occured (C<loop> must be the default	2482	Feed an event as if the given signal occurred (C<loop> must be the default
1596	loop!).	2483	loop!).
1597		2484
1598	=back	2485	=back
1599		2486
1600		2487
…		…
1616		2503
1617	=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities	2504	=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities
1618	will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there	2505	will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there
1619	is an ev_pri field.	2506	is an ev_pri field.
1620		2507
		2508	=item * In libevent, the last base created gets the signals, in libev, the
		2509	first base created (== the default loop) gets the signals.
		2510
1621	=item * Other members are not supported.	2511	=item * Other members are not supported.
1622		2512
1623	=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need	2513	=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
1624	to use the libev header file and library.	2514	to use the libev header file and library.
1625		2515
1626	=back	2516	=back
1627		2517
1628	=head1 C++ SUPPORT	2518	=head1 C++ SUPPORT
1629		2519
1630	Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow	2520	Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow
1631	you to use some convinience methods to start/stop watchers and also change	2521	you to use some convenience methods to start/stop watchers and also change
1632	the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.	2522	the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.
1633		2523
1634	To use it,	2524	To use it,
1635		2525
1636	#include <ev++.h>	2526	#include <ev++.h>
1637		2527
1638	(it is not installed by default). This automatically includes F<ev.h>	2528	This automatically includes F<ev.h> and puts all of its definitions (many
1639	and puts all of its definitions (many of them macros) into the global	2529	of them macros) into the global namespace. All C++ specific things are
1640	namespace. All C++ specific things are put into the C<ev> namespace.	2530	put into the C<ev> namespace. It should support all the same embedding
		2531	options as F<ev.h>, most notably C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>.
1641		2532
1642	It should support all the same embedding options as F<ev.h>, most notably	2533	Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the C++
1643	C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>.	2534	classes add (compared to plain C-style watchers) is the event loop pointer
		2535	that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if
		2536	you disable C<EV_MULTIPLICITY> when embedding libev).
		2537
		2538	Currently, functions, and static and non-static member functions can be
		2539	used as callbacks. Other types should be easy to add as long as they only
		2540	need one additional pointer for context. If you need support for other
		2541	types of functors please contact the author (preferably after implementing
		2542	it).
1644		2543
1645	Here is a list of things available in the C<ev> namespace:	2544	Here is a list of things available in the C<ev> namespace:
1646		2545
1647	=over 4	2546	=over 4
1648		2547
…		…
1664		2563
1665	All of those classes have these methods:	2564	All of those classes have these methods:
1666		2565
1667	=over 4	2566	=over 4
1668		2567
1669	=item ev::TYPE::TYPE (object *, object::method *)	2568	=item ev::TYPE::TYPE ()
1670		2569
1671	=item ev::TYPE::TYPE (object *, object::method *, struct ev_loop *)	2570	=item ev::TYPE::TYPE (struct ev_loop *)
1672		2571
1673	=item ev::TYPE::~TYPE	2572	=item ev::TYPE::~TYPE
1674		2573
1675	The constructor takes a pointer to an object and a method pointer to	2574	The constructor (optionally) takes an event loop to associate the watcher
1676	the event handler callback to call in this class. The constructor calls	2575	with. If it is omitted, it will use C<EV_DEFAULT>.
1677	C<ev_init> for you, which means you have to call the C<set> method	2576
1678	before starting it. If you do not specify a loop then the constructor	2577	The constructor calls C<ev_init> for you, which means you have to call the
1679	automatically associates the default loop with this watcher.	2578	C<set> method before starting it.
		2579
		2580	It will not set a callback, however: You have to call the templated C<set>
		2581	method to set a callback before you can start the watcher.
		2582
		2583	(The reason why you have to use a method is a limitation in C++ which does
		2584	not allow explicit template arguments for constructors).
1680		2585
1681	The destructor automatically stops the watcher if it is active.	2586	The destructor automatically stops the watcher if it is active.
		2587
		2588	=item w->set<class, &class::method> (object *)
		2589
		2590	This method sets the callback method to call. The method has to have a
		2591	signature of C<void (*)(ev_TYPE &, int)>, it receives the watcher as
		2592	first argument and the C<revents> as second. The object must be given as
		2593	parameter and is stored in the C<data> member of the watcher.
		2594
		2595	This method synthesizes efficient thunking code to call your method from
		2596	the C callback that libev requires. If your compiler can inline your
		2597	callback (i.e. it is visible to it at the place of the C<set> call and
		2598	your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the
		2599	thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.
		2600
		2601	Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation
		2602
		2603	struct myclass
		2604	{
		2605	void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
		2606	}
		2607
		2608	myclass obj;
		2609	ev::io iow;
		2610	iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);
		2611
		2612	=item w->set<function> (void *data = 0)
		2613
		2614	Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as
		2615	callback. The optional C<data> argument will be stored in the watcher's
		2616	C<data> member and is free for you to use.
		2617
		2618	The prototype of the C<function> must be C<void (*)(ev::TYPE &w, int)>.
		2619
		2620	See the method-C<set> above for more details.
		2621
		2622	Example:
		2623
		2624	static void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
		2625	iow.set <io_cb> ();
1682		2626
1683	=item w->set (struct ev_loop *)	2627	=item w->set (struct ev_loop *)
1684		2628
1685	Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only	2629	Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only
1686	do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).	2630	do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).
1687		2631
1688	=item w->set ([args])	2632	=item w->set ([arguments])
1689		2633
1690	Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set>, with the same args. Must be	2634	Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set>, with the same arguments. Must be
1691	called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets	2635	called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets
1692	automatically stopped and restarted.	2636	automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this
		2637	method.
1693		2638
1694	=item w->start ()	2639	=item w->start ()
1695		2640
1696	Starts the watcher. Note that there is no C<loop> argument as the	2641	Starts the watcher. Note that there is no C<loop> argument, as the
1697	constructor already takes the loop.	2642	constructor already stores the event loop.
1698		2643
1699	=item w->stop ()	2644	=item w->stop ()
1700		2645
1701	Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.	2646	Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.
1702		2647
1703	=item w->again () C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only	2648	=item w->again () (C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only)
1704		2649
1705	For C<ev::timer> and C<ev::periodic>, this invokes the corresponding	2650	For C<ev::timer> and C<ev::periodic>, this invokes the corresponding
1706	C<ev_TYPE_again> function.	2651	C<ev_TYPE_again> function.
1707		2652
1708	=item w->sweep () C<ev::embed> only	2653	=item w->sweep () (C<ev::embed> only)
1709		2654
1710	Invokes C<ev_embed_sweep>.	2655	Invokes C<ev_embed_sweep>.
1711		2656
1712	=item w->update () C<ev::stat> only	2657	=item w->update () (C<ev::stat> only)
1713		2658
1714	Invokes C<ev_stat_stat>.	2659	Invokes C<ev_stat_stat>.
1715		2660
1716	=back	2661	=back
1717		2662
1718	=back	2663	=back
1719		2664
1720	Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in	2665	Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in
1721	the constructor.	2666	the constructor.
1722		2667
1723	class myclass	2668	class myclass
1724	{	2669	{
1725	ev_io io; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);	2670	ev::io io; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);
1726	ev_idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);	2671	ev:idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);
1727		2672
1728	myclass ();	2673	myclass (int fd)
1729	}	2674	{
		2675	io .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb > (this);
		2676	idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);
1730		2677
1731	myclass::myclass (int fd)
1732	: io (this, &myclass::io_cb),
1733	idle (this, &myclass::idle_cb)
1734	{
1735	io.start (fd, ev::READ);	2678	io.start (fd, ev::READ);
		2679	}
1736	}	2680	};
		2681
		2682
		2683	=head1 OTHER LANGUAGE BINDINGS
		2684
		2685	Libev does not offer other language bindings itself, but bindings for a
		2686	number of languages exist in the form of third-party packages. If you know
		2687	any interesting language binding in addition to the ones listed here, drop
		2688	me a note.
		2689
		2690	=over 4
		2691
		2692	=item Perl
		2693
		2694	The EV module implements the full libev API and is actually used to test
		2695	libev. EV is developed together with libev. Apart from the EV core module,
		2696	there are additional modules that implement libev-compatible interfaces
		2697	to C<libadns> (C<EV::ADNS>), C<Net::SNMP> (C<Net::SNMP::EV>) and the
		2698	C<libglib> event core (C<Glib::EV> and C<EV::Glib>).
		2699
		2700	It can be found and installed via CPAN, its homepage is at
		2701	L<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV>.
		2702
		2703	=item Python
		2704
		2705	Python bindings can be found at L<http://code.google.com/p/pyev/>. It
		2706	seems to be quite complete and well-documented. Note, however, that the
		2707	patch they require for libev is outright dangerous as it breaks the ABI
		2708	for everybody else, and therefore, should never be applied in an installed
		2709	libev (if python requires an incompatible ABI then it needs to embed
		2710	libev).
		2711
		2712	=item Ruby
		2713
		2714	Tony Arcieri has written a ruby extension that offers access to a subset
		2715	of the libev API and adds file handle abstractions, asynchronous DNS and
		2716	more on top of it. It can be found via gem servers. Its homepage is at
		2717	L<http://rev.rubyforge.org/>.
		2718
		2719	=item D
		2720
		2721	Leandro Lucarella has written a D language binding (F<ev.d>) for libev, to
		2722	be found at L<http://proj.llucax.com.ar/wiki/evd>.
		2723
		2724	=back
1737		2725
1738		2726
1739	=head1 MACRO MAGIC	2727	=head1 MACRO MAGIC
1740		2728
1741	Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundemantal is	2729	Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundamental
1742	C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines wether (most) functions and	2730	of which is C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines whether (most)
1743	callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument.	2731	functions and callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument.
1744		2732
1745	To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the	2733	To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
1746	following macros are defined:	2734	following macros are defined:
1747		2735
1748	=over 4	2736	=over 4
…		…
1751		2739
1752	This provides the loop I<argument> for functions, if one is required ("ev	2740	This provides the loop I<argument> for functions, if one is required ("ev
1753	loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,	2741	loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,
1754	C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:	2742	C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:
1755		2743
1756	ev_unref (EV_A);	2744	ev_unref (EV_A);
1757	ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);	2745	ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);
1758	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);	2746	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
1759		2747
1760	It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,	2748	It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,
1761	which is often provided by the following macro.	2749	which is often provided by the following macro.
1762		2750
1763	=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>	2751	=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>
1764		2752
1765	This provides the loop I<parameter> for functions, if one is required ("ev	2753	This provides the loop I<parameter> for functions, if one is required ("ev
1766	loop parameter"). The C<EV_P> form is used when this is the sole parameter,	2754	loop parameter"). The C<EV_P> form is used when this is the sole parameter,
1767	C<EV_P_> is used when other parameters are following. Example:	2755	C<EV_P_> is used when other parameters are following. Example:
1768		2756
1769	// this is how ev_unref is being declared	2757	// this is how ev_unref is being declared
1770	static void ev_unref (EV_P);	2758	static void ev_unref (EV_P);
1771		2759
1772	// this is how you can declare your typical callback	2760	// this is how you can declare your typical callback
1773	static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	2761	static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1774		2762
1775	It declares a parameter C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *>, quite	2763	It declares a parameter C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *>, quite
1776	suitable for use with C<EV_A>.	2764	suitable for use with C<EV_A>.
1777		2765
1778	=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>	2766	=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>
1779		2767
1780	Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default	2768	Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
1781	loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").	2769	loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").
1782		2770
		2771	=item C<EV_DEFAULT_UC>, C<EV_DEFAULT_UC_>
		2772
		2773	Usage identical to C<EV_DEFAULT> and C<EV_DEFAULT_>, but requires that the
		2774	default loop has been initialised (C<UC> == unchecked). Their behaviour
		2775	is undefined when the default loop has not been initialised by a previous
		2776	execution of C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_> or C<ev_default_init (...)>.
		2777
		2778	It is often prudent to use C<EV_DEFAULT> when initialising the first
		2779	watcher in a function but use C<EV_DEFAULT_UC> afterwards.
		2780
1783	=back	2781	=back
1784		2782
1785	Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, working regardless of	2783	Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above
1786	wether multiple loops are supported or not.	2784	macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported
		2785	or not.
1787		2786
1788	static void	2787	static void
1789	check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	2788	check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1790	{	2789	{
1791	ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);	2790	ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);
1792	}	2791	}
1793		2792
1794	ev_check check;	2793	ev_check check;
1795	ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);	2794	ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);
1796	ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);	2795	ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);
1797	ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);	2796	ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
1798
1799		2797
1800	=head1 EMBEDDING	2798	=head1 EMBEDDING
1801		2799
1802	Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host	2800	Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
1803	applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra	2801	applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
1804	Game Server, the EV perl module, the GNU Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)	2802	Game Server, the EV perl module, the GNU Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)
1805	and rxvt-unicode.	2803	and rxvt-unicode.
1806		2804
1807	The goal is to enable you to just copy the neecssary files into your	2805	The goal is to enable you to just copy the necessary files into your
1808	source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so	2806	source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so
1809	you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of	2807	you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of
1810	libev somewhere in your source tree).	2808	libev somewhere in your source tree).
1811		2809
1812	=head2 FILESETS	2810	=head2 FILESETS
1813		2811
1814	Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files	2812	Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files
1815	in your app.	2813	in your application.
1816		2814
1817	=head3 CORE EVENT LOOP	2815	=head3 CORE EVENT LOOP
1818		2816
1819	To include only the libev core (all the C<ev_*> functions), with manual	2817	To include only the libev core (all the C<ev_*> functions), with manual
1820	configuration (no autoconf):	2818	configuration (no autoconf):
1821		2819
1822	#define EV_STANDALONE 1	2820	#define EV_STANDALONE 1
1823	#include "ev.c"	2821	#include "ev.c"
1824		2822
1825	This will automatically include F<ev.h>, too, and should be done in a	2823	This will automatically include F<ev.h>, too, and should be done in a
1826	single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use	2824	single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use
1827	it, do the same for F<ev.h> in all files wishing to use this API (best	2825	it, do the same for F<ev.h> in all files wishing to use this API (best
1828	done by writing a wrapper around F<ev.h> that you can include instead and	2826	done by writing a wrapper around F<ev.h> that you can include instead and
1829	where you can put other configuration options):	2827	where you can put other configuration options):
1830		2828
1831	#define EV_STANDALONE 1	2829	#define EV_STANDALONE 1
1832	#include "ev.h"	2830	#include "ev.h"
1833		2831
1834	Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++	2832	Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++
1835	compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated	2833	compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated
1836	as a bug).	2834	as a bug).
1837		2835
1838	You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory	2836	You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory
1839	in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):	2837	in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):
1840		2838
1841	ev.h	2839	ev.h
1842	ev.c	2840	ev.c
1843	ev_vars.h	2841	ev_vars.h
1844	ev_wrap.h	2842	ev_wrap.h
1845		2843
1846	ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only	2844	ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only
1847		2845
1848	ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is by default)	2846	ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)
1849	ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)	2847	ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1850	ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)	2848	ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1851	ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)	2849	ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1852	ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)	2850	ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1853		2851
1854	F<ev.c> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need	2852	F<ev.c> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need
1855	to compile this single file.	2853	to compile this single file.
1856		2854
1857	=head3 LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API	2855	=head3 LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API
1858		2856
1859	To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:	2857	To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:
1860		2858
1861	#include "event.c"	2859	#include "event.c"
1862		2860
1863	in the file including F<ev.c>, and:	2861	in the file including F<ev.c>, and:
1864		2862
1865	#include "event.h"	2863	#include "event.h"
1866		2864
1867	in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes F<ev.h>.	2865	in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes F<ev.h>.
1868		2866
1869	You need the following additional files for this:	2867	You need the following additional files for this:
1870		2868
1871	event.h	2869	event.h
1872	event.c	2870	event.c
1873		2871
1874	=head3 AUTOCONF SUPPORT	2872	=head3 AUTOCONF SUPPORT
1875		2873
1876	Instead of using C<EV_STANDALONE=1> and providing your config in	2874	Instead of using C<EV_STANDALONE=1> and providing your configuration in
1877	whatever way you want, you can also C<m4_include([libev.m4])> in your	2875	whatever way you want, you can also C<m4_include([libev.m4])> in your
1878	F<configure.ac> and leave C<EV_STANDALONE> undefined. F<ev.c> will then	2876	F<configure.ac> and leave C<EV_STANDALONE> undefined. F<ev.c> will then
1879	include F<config.h> and configure itself accordingly.	2877	include F<config.h> and configure itself accordingly.
1880		2878
1881	For this of course you need the m4 file:	2879	For this of course you need the m4 file:
1882		2880
1883	libev.m4	2881	libev.m4
1884		2882
1885	=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS	2883	=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS
1886		2884
1887	Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to define	2885	Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to
1888	before including any of its files. The default is not to build for multiplicity	2886	define before including any of its files. The default in the absence of
1889	and only include the select backend.	2887	autoconf is noted for every option.
1890		2888
1891	=over 4	2889	=over 4
1892		2890
1893	=item EV_STANDALONE	2891	=item EV_STANDALONE
1894		2892
…		…
1899	F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.	2897	F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.
1900		2898
1901	=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC	2899	=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC
1902		2900
1903	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the	2901	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
1904	monotonic clock option at both compiletime and runtime. Otherwise no use	2902	monotonic clock option at both compile time and runtime. Otherwise no use
1905	of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you	2903	of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you
1906	usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when	2904	usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when
1907	the functionality isn't available is safe, though, althoguh you have	2905	the functionality isn't available is safe, though, although you have
1908	to make sure you link against any libraries where the C<clock_gettime>	2906	to make sure you link against any libraries where the C<clock_gettime>
1909	function is hiding in (often F<-lrt>).	2907	function is hiding in (often F<-lrt>).
1910		2908
1911	=item EV_USE_REALTIME	2909	=item EV_USE_REALTIME
1912		2910
1913	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the	2911	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
1914	realtime clock option at compiletime (and assume its availability at	2912	real-time clock option at compile time (and assume its availability at
1915	runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the realtime clock option will	2913	runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the real-time clock option will
1916	be attempted. This effectively replaces C<gettimeofday> by C<clock_get	2914	be attempted. This effectively replaces C<gettimeofday> by C<clock_get
1917	(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)> and will not normally affect correctness. See tzhe note about libraries	2915	(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)> and will not normally affect correctness. See the
1918	in the description of C<EV_USE_MONOTONIC>, though.	2916	note about libraries in the description of C<EV_USE_MONOTONIC>, though.
		2917
		2918	=item EV_USE_NANOSLEEP
		2919
		2920	If defined to be C<1>, libev will assume that C<nanosleep ()> is available
		2921	and will use it for delays. Otherwise it will use C<select ()>.
		2922
		2923	=item EV_USE_EVENTFD
		2924
		2925	If defined to be C<1>, then libev will assume that C<eventfd ()> is
		2926	available and will probe for kernel support at runtime. This will improve
		2927	C<ev_signal> and C<ev_async> performance and reduce resource consumption.
		2928	If undefined, it will be enabled if the headers indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc
		2929	2.7 or newer, otherwise disabled.
1919		2930
1920	=item EV_USE_SELECT	2931	=item EV_USE_SELECT
1921		2932
1922	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the	2933	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the
1923	C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no	2934	C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at auto-detection will be done: if no
1924	other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend	2935	other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend
1925	will not be compiled in.	2936	will not be compiled in.
1926		2937
1927	=item EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET	2938	=item EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET
1928		2939
1929	If defined to C<1>, then the select backend will use the system C<fd_set>	2940	If defined to C<1>, then the select backend will use the system C<fd_set>
1930	structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing	2941	structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing
1931	C<NFDBITS> or C<fd_mask> definition or it misguesses the bitset layout on	2942	C<NFDBITS> or C<fd_mask> definition or it mis-guesses the bitset layout on
1932	exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some	2943	exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some
1933	low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only	2944	low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only
1934	allows 64 sockets). The C<FD_SETSIZE> macro, set before compilation, might	2945	allows 64 sockets). The C<FD_SETSIZE> macro, set before compilation, might
1935	influence the size of the C<fd_set> used.	2946	influence the size of the C<fd_set> used.
1936		2947
…		…
1942	be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call	2953	be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
1943	C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,	2954	C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,
1944	it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even	2955	it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
1945	on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.	2956	on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.
1946		2957
		2958	=item EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE
		2959
		2960	If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> is enabled, then libev needs a way to map
		2961	file descriptors to socket handles. When not defining this symbol (the
		2962	default), then libev will call C<_get_osfhandle>, which is usually
		2963	correct. In some cases, programs use their own file descriptor management,
		2964	in which case they can provide this function to map fds to socket handles.
		2965
1947	=item EV_USE_POLL	2966	=item EV_USE_POLL
1948		2967
1949	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)	2968	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)
1950	backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It	2969	backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It
1951	takes precedence over select.	2970	takes precedence over select.
1952		2971
1953	=item EV_USE_EPOLL	2972	=item EV_USE_EPOLL
1954		2973
1955	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux	2974	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux
1956	C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,	2975	C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
1957	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the	2976	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
1958	preferred backend for GNU/Linux systems.	2977	backend for GNU/Linux systems. If undefined, it will be enabled if the
		2978	headers indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc 2.4 or newer, otherwise disabled.
1959		2979
1960	=item EV_USE_KQUEUE	2980	=item EV_USE_KQUEUE
1961		2981
1962	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style	2982	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style
1963	C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,	2983	C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,
…		…
1976	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred	2996	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
1977	backend for Solaris 10 systems.	2997	backend for Solaris 10 systems.
1978		2998
1979	=item EV_USE_DEVPOLL	2999	=item EV_USE_DEVPOLL
1980		3000
1981	reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.	3001	Reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.
		3002
		3003	=item EV_USE_INOTIFY
		3004
		3005	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
		3006	interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will
		3007	be detected at runtime. If undefined, it will be enabled if the headers
		3008	indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc 2.4 or newer, otherwise disabled.
		3009
		3010	=item EV_ATOMIC_T
		3011
		3012	Libev requires an integer type (suitable for storing C<0> or C<1>) whose
		3013	access is atomic with respect to other threads or signal contexts. No such
		3014	type is easily found in the C language, so you can provide your own type
		3015	that you know is safe for your purposes. It is used both for signal handler "locking"
		3016	as well as for signal and thread safety in C<ev_async> watchers.
		3017
		3018	In the absence of this define, libev will use C<sig_atomic_t volatile>
		3019	(from F<signal.h>), which is usually good enough on most platforms.
1982		3020
1983	=item EV_H	3021	=item EV_H
1984		3022
1985	The name of the F<ev.h> header file used to include it. The default if	3023	The name of the F<ev.h> header file used to include it. The default if
1986	undefined is C<< <ev.h> >> in F<event.h> and C<"ev.h"> in F<ev.c>. This	3024	undefined is C<"ev.h"> in F<event.h>, F<ev.c> and F<ev++.h>. This can be
1987	can be used to virtually rename the F<ev.h> header file in case of conflicts.	3025	used to virtually rename the F<ev.h> header file in case of conflicts.
1988		3026
1989	=item EV_CONFIG_H	3027	=item EV_CONFIG_H
1990		3028
1991	If C<EV_STANDALONE> isn't C<1>, this variable can be used to override	3029	If C<EV_STANDALONE> isn't C<1>, this variable can be used to override
1992	F<ev.c>'s idea of where to find the F<config.h> file, similarly to	3030	F<ev.c>'s idea of where to find the F<config.h> file, similarly to
1993	C<EV_H>, above.	3031	C<EV_H>, above.
1994		3032
1995	=item EV_EVENT_H	3033	=item EV_EVENT_H
1996		3034
1997	Similarly to C<EV_H>, this macro can be used to override F<event.c>'s idea	3035	Similarly to C<EV_H>, this macro can be used to override F<event.c>'s idea
1998	of how the F<event.h> header can be found.	3036	of how the F<event.h> header can be found, the default is C<"event.h">.
1999		3037
2000	=item EV_PROTOTYPES	3038	=item EV_PROTOTYPES
2001		3039
2002	If defined to be C<0>, then F<ev.h> will not define any function	3040	If defined to be C<0>, then F<ev.h> will not define any function
2003	prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is	3041	prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is
…		…
2010	will have the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument, and you can create	3048	will have the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument, and you can create
2011	additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support	3049	additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support
2012	for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer	3050	for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer
2013	argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.	3051	argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.
2014		3052
		3053	=item EV_MINPRI
		3054
		3055	=item EV_MAXPRI
		3056
		3057	The range of allowed priorities. C<EV_MINPRI> must be smaller or equal to
		3058	C<EV_MAXPRI>, but otherwise there are no non-obvious limitations. You can
		3059	provide for more priorities by overriding those symbols (usually defined
		3060	to be C<-2> and C<2>, respectively).
		3061
		3062	When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search
		3063	all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space
		3064	and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (-2 .. +2) is usually
		3065	fine.
		3066
		3067	If your embedding application does not need any priorities, defining these both to
		3068	C<0> will save some memory and CPU.
		3069
2015	=item EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE	3070	=item EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE
2016		3071
2017	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then periodic timers are supported. If	3072	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then periodic timers are supported. If
2018	defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of	3073	defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2019	code.	3074	code.
2020		3075
		3076	=item EV_IDLE_ENABLE
		3077
		3078	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then idle watchers are supported. If
		3079	defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
		3080	code.
		3081
2021	=item EV_EMBED_ENABLE	3082	=item EV_EMBED_ENABLE
2022		3083
2023	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then embed watchers are supported. If	3084	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then embed watchers are supported. If
2024	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.	3085	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2025		3086
…		…
2031	=item EV_FORK_ENABLE	3092	=item EV_FORK_ENABLE
2032		3093
2033	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then fork watchers are supported. If	3094	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then fork watchers are supported. If
2034	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.	3095	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2035		3096
		3097	=item EV_ASYNC_ENABLE
		3098
		3099	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then async watchers are supported. If
		3100	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
		3101
2036	=item EV_MINIMAL	3102	=item EV_MINIMAL
2037		3103
2038	If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some	3104	If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some
2039	speed, define this symbol to C<1>. Currently only used for gcc to override	3105	speed, define this symbol to C<1>. Currently this is used to override some
2040	some inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% codesize of amd64.	3106	inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% code size on amd64. It also selects a
		3107	much smaller 2-heap for timer management over the default 4-heap.
2041		3108
2042	=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE	3109	=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE
2043		3110
2044	C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by	3111	C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2045	pid. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>), usually more	3112	pid. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>), usually more
2046	than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to	3113	than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to
2047	increase this value.	3114	increase this value (I<must> be a power of two).
		3115
		3116	=item EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE
		3117
		3118	C<ev_stat> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
		3119	inotify watch id. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>),
		3120	usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of C<ev_stat>
		3121	watchers you might want to increase this value (I<must> be a power of
		3122	two).
		3123
		3124	=item EV_USE_4HEAP
		3125
		3126	Heaps are not very cache-efficient. To improve the cache-efficiency of the
		3127	timer and periodics heap, libev uses a 4-heap when this symbol is defined
		3128	to C<1>. The 4-heap uses more complicated (longer) code but has
		3129	noticeably faster performance with many (thousands) of watchers.
		3130
		3131	The default is C<1> unless C<EV_MINIMAL> is set in which case it is C<0>
		3132	(disabled).
		3133
		3134	=item EV_HEAP_CACHE_AT
		3135
		3136	Heaps are not very cache-efficient. To improve the cache-efficiency of the
		3137	timer and periodics heap, libev can cache the timestamp (I<at>) within
		3138	the heap structure (selected by defining C<EV_HEAP_CACHE_AT> to C<1>),
		3139	which uses 8-12 bytes more per watcher and a few hundred bytes more code,
		3140	but avoids random read accesses on heap changes. This improves performance
		3141	noticeably with with many (hundreds) of watchers.
		3142
		3143	The default is C<1> unless C<EV_MINIMAL> is set in which case it is C<0>
		3144	(disabled).
		3145
		3146	=item EV_VERIFY
		3147
		3148	Controls how much internal verification (see C<ev_loop_verify ()>) will
		3149	be done: If set to C<0>, no internal verification code will be compiled
		3150	in. If set to C<1>, then verification code will be compiled in, but not
		3151	called. If set to C<2>, then the internal verification code will be
		3152	called once per loop, which can slow down libev. If set to C<3>, then the
		3153	verification code will be called very frequently, which will slow down
		3154	libev considerably.
		3155
		3156	The default is C<1>, unless C<EV_MINIMAL> is set, in which case it will be
		3157	C<0.>
2048		3158
2049	=item EV_COMMON	3159	=item EV_COMMON
2050		3160
2051	By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining	3161	By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining
2052	this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of	3162	this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of
2053	members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,	3163	members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
2054	though, and it must be identical each time.	3164	though, and it must be identical each time.
2055		3165
2056	For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:	3166	For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:
2057		3167
2058	#define EV_COMMON \	3168	#define EV_COMMON \
2059	SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \	3169	SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \
2060	SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing ";" */	3170	SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing ";" */
2061		3171
2062	=item EV_CB_DECLARE (type)	3172	=item EV_CB_DECLARE (type)
2063		3173
2064	=item EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)	3174	=item EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)
2065		3175
2066	=item ev_set_cb (ev, cb)	3176	=item ev_set_cb (ev, cb)
2067		3177
2068	Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,	3178	Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,
2069	and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member	3179	and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member
2070	definition and a statement, respectively. See the F<ev.v> header file for	3180	definition and a statement, respectively. See the F<ev.h> header file for
2071	their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to	3181	their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to
2072	avoid the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument in all cases, or to use	3182	avoid the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument in all cases, or to use
2073	method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.	3183	method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.
		3184
		3185	=head2 EXPORTED API SYMBOLS
		3186
		3187	If you need to re-export the API (e.g. via a DLL) and you need a list of
		3188	exported symbols, you can use the provided F<Symbol.*> files which list
		3189	all public symbols, one per line:
		3190
		3191	Symbols.ev for libev proper
		3192	Symbols.event for the libevent emulation
		3193
		3194	This can also be used to rename all public symbols to avoid clashes with
		3195	multiple versions of libev linked together (which is obviously bad in
		3196	itself, but sometimes it is inconvenient to avoid this).
		3197
		3198	A sed command like this will create wrapper C<#define>'s that you need to
		3199	include before including F<ev.h>:
		3200
		3201	<Symbols.ev sed -e "s/.*/#define & myprefix_&/" >wrap.h
		3202
		3203	This would create a file F<wrap.h> which essentially looks like this:
		3204
		3205	#define ev_backend myprefix_ev_backend
		3206	#define ev_check_start myprefix_ev_check_start
		3207	#define ev_check_stop myprefix_ev_check_stop
		3208	...
2074		3209
2075	=head2 EXAMPLES	3210	=head2 EXAMPLES
2076		3211
2077	For a real-world example of a program the includes libev	3212	For a real-world example of a program the includes libev
2078	verbatim, you can have a look at the EV perl module	3213	verbatim, you can have a look at the EV perl module
…		…
2081	interface) and F<EV.xs> (implementation) files. Only the F<EV.xs> file	3216	interface) and F<EV.xs> (implementation) files. Only the F<EV.xs> file
2082	will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header	3217	will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header
2083	file.	3218	file.
2084		3219
2085	The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file	3220	The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file
2086	that everybody includes and which overrides some autoconf choices:	3221	that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:
2087		3222
		3223	#define EV_MINIMAL 1
2088	#define EV_USE_POLL 0	3224	#define EV_USE_POLL 0
2089	#define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0	3225	#define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
2090	#define EV_PERIODICS 0	3226	#define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0
		3227	#define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0
		3228	#define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0
2091	#define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>	3229	#define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>
		3230	#define EV_MINPRI 0
		3231	#define EV_MAXPRI 0
2092		3232
2093	#include "ev++.h"	3233	#include "ev++.h"
2094		3234
2095	And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:	3235	And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:
2096		3236
2097	#include "ev_cpp.h"	3237	#include "ev_cpp.h"
2098	#include "ev.c"	3238	#include "ev.c"
		3239
		3240
		3241	=head1 THREADS AND COROUTINES
		3242
		3243	=head2 THREADS
		3244
		3245	Libev itself is thread-safe (unless the opposite is specifically
		3246	documented for a function), but it uses no locking itself. This means that
		3247	you can use as many loops as you want in parallel, as long as only one
		3248	thread ever calls into one libev function with the same loop parameter:
		3249	libev guarentees that different event loops share no data structures that
		3250	need locking.
		3251
		3252	Or to put it differently: calls with different loop parameters can be done
		3253	concurrently from multiple threads, calls with the same loop parameter
		3254	must be done serially (but can be done from different threads, as long as
		3255	only one thread ever is inside a call at any point in time, e.g. by using
		3256	a mutex per loop).
		3257
		3258	Specifically to support threads (and signal handlers), libev implements
		3259	so-called C<ev_async> watchers, which allow some limited form of
		3260	concurrency on the same event loop.
		3261
		3262	If you want to know which design (one loop, locking, or multiple loops
		3263	without or something else still) is best for your problem, then I cannot
		3264	help you. I can give some generic advice however:
		3265
		3266	=over 4
		3267
		3268	=item * most applications have a main thread: use the default libev loop
		3269	in that thread, or create a separate thread running only the default loop.
		3270
		3271	This helps integrating other libraries or software modules that use libev
		3272	themselves and don't care/know about threading.
		3273
		3274	=item * one loop per thread is usually a good model.
		3275
		3276	Doing this is almost never wrong, sometimes a better-performance model
		3277	exists, but it is always a good start.
		3278
		3279	=item * other models exist, such as the leader/follower pattern, where one
		3280	loop is handed through multiple threads in a kind of round-robin fashion.
		3281
		3282	Choosing a model is hard - look around, learn, know that usually you can do
		3283	better than you currently do :-)
		3284
		3285	=item * often you need to talk to some other thread which blocks in the
		3286	event loop.
		3287
		3288	C<ev_async> watchers can be used to wake them up from other threads safely
		3289	(or from signal contexts...).
		3290
		3291	An example use would be to communicate signals or other events that only
		3292	work in the default loop by registering the signal watcher with the
		3293	default loop and triggering an C<ev_async> watcher from the default loop
		3294	watcher callback into the event loop interested in the signal.
		3295
		3296	=back
		3297
		3298	=head2 COROUTINES
		3299
		3300	Libev is much more accommodating to coroutines ("cooperative threads"):
		3301	libev fully supports nesting calls to it's functions from different
		3302	coroutines (e.g. you can call C<ev_loop> on the same loop from two
		3303	different coroutines and switch freely between both coroutines running the
		3304	loop, as long as you don't confuse yourself). The only exception is that
		3305	you must not do this from C<ev_periodic> reschedule callbacks.
		3306
		3307	Care has been taken to ensure that libev does not keep local state inside
		3308	C<ev_loop>, and other calls do not usually allow coroutine switches.
2099		3309
2100		3310
2101	=head1 COMPLEXITIES	3311	=head1 COMPLEXITIES
2102		3312
2103	In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside	3313	In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
2104	libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the	3314	libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the
2105	documentation for C<ev_default_init>.	3315	documentation for C<ev_default_init>.
2106		3316
		3317	All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be
		3318	extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this
		3319	happens asymptotically never with higher number of elements, so O(1) might
		3320	mean it might do a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on average
		3321	it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.
		3322
2107	=over 4	3323	=over 4
2108		3324
2109	=item Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)	3325	=item Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)
2110		3326
		3327	This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and
		3328	there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that then inserting will
		3329	have to skip roughly seven (C<ld 100>) of these watchers.
		3330
2111	=item Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat, again): O(log skipped_other_timers)	3331	=item Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat or calling again): O(log skipped_other_timers)
2112		3332
		3333	That means that changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them
		3334	as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.
		3335
2113	=item Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child watchers: O(1)	3336	=item Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child/fork/async watchers: O(1)
2114		3337
		3338	These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.
		3339
2115	=item Stopping check/prepare/idle watchers: O(1)	3340	=item Stopping check/prepare/idle/fork/async watchers: O(1)
2116		3341
2117	=item Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % 16))	3342	=item Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))
2118		3343
		3344	These watchers are stored in lists then need to be walked to find the
		3345	correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually
		3346	have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal).
		3347
2119	=item Finding the next timer per loop iteration: O(1)	3348	=item Finding the next timer in each loop iteration: O(1)
		3349
		3350	By virtue of using a binary or 4-heap, the next timer is always found at a
		3351	fixed position in the storage array.
2120		3352
2121	=item Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)	3353	=item Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)
2122		3354
2123	=item Activating one watcher: O(1)	3355	A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires
		3356	libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel, depending
		3357	on backend and whether C<ev_io_set> was used).
		3358
		3359	=item Activating one watcher (putting it into the pending state): O(1)
		3360
		3361	=item Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)
		3362
		3363	Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each
		3364	priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to
		3365	linearly search all the priorities, but starting/stopping and activating
		3366	watchers becomes O(1) w.r.t. priority handling.
		3367
		3368	=item Sending an ev_async: O(1)
		3369
		3370	=item Processing ev_async_send: O(number_of_async_watchers)
		3371
		3372	=item Processing signals: O(max_signal_number)
		3373
		3374	Sending involves a system call I<iff> there were no other C<ev_async_send>
		3375	calls in the current loop iteration. Checking for async and signal events
		3376	involves iterating over all running async watchers or all signal numbers.
2124		3377
2125	=back	3378	=back
2126		3379
2127		3380
		3381	=head1 WIN32 PLATFORM LIMITATIONS AND WORKAROUNDS
		3382
		3383	Win32 doesn't support any of the standards (e.g. POSIX) that libev
		3384	requires, and its I/O model is fundamentally incompatible with the POSIX
		3385	model. Libev still offers limited functionality on this platform in
		3386	the form of the C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> backend, and only supports socket
		3387	descriptors. This only applies when using Win32 natively, not when using
		3388	e.g. cygwin.
		3389
		3390	Lifting these limitations would basically require the full
		3391	re-implementation of the I/O system. If you are into these kinds of
		3392	things, then note that glib does exactly that for you in a very portable
		3393	way (note also that glib is the slowest event library known to man).
		3394
		3395	There is no supported compilation method available on windows except
		3396	embedding it into other applications.
		3397
		3398	Not a libev limitation but worth mentioning: windows apparently doesn't
		3399	accept large writes: instead of resulting in a partial write, windows will
		3400	either accept everything or return C<ENOBUFS> if the buffer is too large,
		3401	so make sure you only write small amounts into your sockets (less than a
		3402	megabyte seems safe, but thsi apparently depends on the amount of memory
		3403	available).
		3404
		3405	Due to the many, low, and arbitrary limits on the win32 platform and
		3406	the abysmal performance of winsockets, using a large number of sockets
		3407	is not recommended (and not reasonable). If your program needs to use
		3408	more than a hundred or so sockets, then likely it needs to use a totally
		3409	different implementation for windows, as libev offers the POSIX readiness
		3410	notification model, which cannot be implemented efficiently on windows
		3411	(Microsoft monopoly games).
		3412
		3413	A typical way to use libev under windows is to embed it (see the embedding
		3414	section for details) and use the following F<evwrap.h> header file instead
		3415	of F<ev.h>:
		3416
		3417	#define EV_STANDALONE /* keeps ev from requiring config.h */
		3418	#define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* configure libev for windows select */
		3419
		3420	#include "ev.h"
		3421
		3422	And compile the following F<evwrap.c> file into your project (make sure
		3423	you do I<not> compile the F<ev.c> or any other embedded soruce files!):
		3424
		3425	#include "evwrap.h"
		3426	#include "ev.c"
		3427
		3428	=over 4
		3429
		3430	=item The winsocket select function
		3431
		3432	The winsocket C<select> function doesn't follow POSIX in that it
		3433	requires socket I<handles> and not socket I<file descriptors> (it is
		3434	also extremely buggy). This makes select very inefficient, and also
		3435	requires a mapping from file descriptors to socket handles (the Microsoft
		3436	C runtime provides the function C<_open_osfhandle> for this). See the
		3437	discussion of the C<EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET>, C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> and
		3438	C<EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE> preprocessor symbols for more info.
		3439
		3440	The configuration for a "naked" win32 using the Microsoft runtime
		3441	libraries and raw winsocket select is:
		3442
		3443	#define EV_USE_SELECT 1
		3444	#define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* forces EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET, too */
		3445
		3446	Note that winsockets handling of fd sets is O(n), so you can easily get a
		3447	complexity in the O(n²) range when using win32.
		3448
		3449	=item Limited number of file descriptors
		3450
		3451	Windows has numerous arbitrary (and low) limits on things.
		3452
		3453	Early versions of winsocket's select only supported waiting for a maximum
		3454	of C<64> handles (probably owning to the fact that all windows kernels
		3455	can only wait for C<64> things at the same time internally; Microsoft
		3456	recommends spawning a chain of threads and wait for 63 handles and the
		3457	previous thread in each. Great).
		3458
		3459	Newer versions support more handles, but you need to define C<FD_SETSIZE>
		3460	to some high number (e.g. C<2048>) before compiling the winsocket select
		3461	call (which might be in libev or elsewhere, for example, perl does its own
		3462	select emulation on windows).
		3463
		3464	Another limit is the number of file descriptors in the Microsoft runtime
		3465	libraries, which by default is C<64> (there must be a hidden I<64> fetish
		3466	or something like this inside Microsoft). You can increase this by calling
		3467	C<_setmaxstdio>, which can increase this limit to C<2048> (another
		3468	arbitrary limit), but is broken in many versions of the Microsoft runtime
		3469	libraries.
		3470
		3471	This might get you to about C<512> or C<2048> sockets (depending on
		3472	windows version and/or the phase of the moon). To get more, you need to
		3473	wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but the cost of
		3474	calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable.
		3475
		3476	=back
		3477
		3478
		3479	=head1 PORTABILITY REQUIREMENTS
		3480
		3481	In addition to a working ISO-C implementation, libev relies on a few
		3482	additional extensions:
		3483
		3484	=over 4
		3485
		3486	=item C<void (*)(ev_watcher_type *, int revents)> must have compatible
		3487	calling conventions regardless of C<ev_watcher_type *>.
		3488
		3489	Libev assumes not only that all watcher pointers have the same internal
		3490	structure (guaranteed by POSIX but not by ISO C for example), but it also
		3491	assumes that the same (machine) code can be used to call any watcher
		3492	callback: The watcher callbacks have different type signatures, but libev
		3493	calls them using an C<ev_watcher *> internally.
		3494
		3495	=item C<sig_atomic_t volatile> must be thread-atomic as well
		3496
		3497	The type C<sig_atomic_t volatile> (or whatever is defined as
		3498	C<EV_ATOMIC_T>) must be atomic w.r.t. accesses from different
		3499	threads. This is not part of the specification for C<sig_atomic_t>, but is
		3500	believed to be sufficiently portable.
		3501
		3502	=item C<sigprocmask> must work in a threaded environment
		3503
		3504	Libev uses C<sigprocmask> to temporarily block signals. This is not
		3505	allowed in a threaded program (C<pthread_sigmask> has to be used). Typical
		3506	pthread implementations will either allow C<sigprocmask> in the "main
		3507	thread" or will block signals process-wide, both behaviours would
		3508	be compatible with libev. Interaction between C<sigprocmask> and
		3509	C<pthread_sigmask> could complicate things, however.
		3510
		3511	The most portable way to handle signals is to block signals in all threads
		3512	except the initial one, and run the default loop in the initial thread as
		3513	well.
		3514
		3515	=item C<long> must be large enough for common memory allocation sizes
		3516
		3517	To improve portability and simplify using libev, libev uses C<long>
		3518	internally instead of C<size_t> when allocating its data structures. On
		3519	non-POSIX systems (Microsoft...) this might be unexpectedly low, but
		3520	is still at least 31 bits everywhere, which is enough for hundreds of
		3521	millions of watchers.
		3522
		3523	=item C<double> must hold a time value in seconds with enough accuracy
		3524
		3525	The type C<double> is used to represent timestamps. It is required to
		3526	have at least 51 bits of mantissa (and 9 bits of exponent), which is good
		3527	enough for at least into the year 4000. This requirement is fulfilled by
		3528	implementations implementing IEEE 754 (basically all existing ones).
		3529
		3530	=back
		3531
		3532	If you know of other additional requirements drop me a note.
		3533
		3534
		3535	=head1 COMPILER WARNINGS
		3536
		3537	Depending on your compiler and compiler settings, you might get no or a
		3538	lot of warnings when compiling libev code. Some people are apparently
		3539	scared by this.
		3540
		3541	However, these are unavoidable for many reasons. For one, each compiler
		3542	has different warnings, and each user has different tastes regarding
		3543	warning options. "Warn-free" code therefore cannot be a goal except when
		3544	targeting a specific compiler and compiler-version.
		3545
		3546	Another reason is that some compiler warnings require elaborate
		3547	workarounds, or other changes to the code that make it less clear and less
		3548	maintainable.
		3549
		3550	And of course, some compiler warnings are just plain stupid, or simply
		3551	wrong (because they don't actually warn about the condition their message
		3552	seems to warn about).
		3553
		3554	While libev is written to generate as few warnings as possible,
		3555	"warn-free" code is not a goal, and it is recommended not to build libev
		3556	with any compiler warnings enabled unless you are prepared to cope with
		3557	them (e.g. by ignoring them). Remember that warnings are just that:
		3558	warnings, not errors, or proof of bugs.
		3559
		3560
		3561	=head1 VALGRIND
		3562
		3563	Valgrind has a special section here because it is a popular tool that is
		3564	highly useful, but valgrind reports are very hard to interpret.
		3565
		3566	If you think you found a bug (memory leak, uninitialised data access etc.)
		3567	in libev, then check twice: If valgrind reports something like:
		3568
		3569	==2274== definitely lost: 0 bytes in 0 blocks.
		3570	==2274== possibly lost: 0 bytes in 0 blocks.
		3571	==2274== still reachable: 256 bytes in 1 blocks.
		3572
		3573	Then there is no memory leak. Similarly, under some circumstances,
		3574	valgrind might report kernel bugs as if it were a bug in libev, or it
		3575	might be confused (it is a very good tool, but only a tool).
		3576
		3577	If you are unsure about something, feel free to contact the mailing list
		3578	with the full valgrind report and an explanation on why you think this is
		3579	a bug in libev. However, don't be annoyed when you get a brisk "this is
		3580	no bug" answer and take the chance of learning how to interpret valgrind
		3581	properly.
		3582
		3583	If you need, for some reason, empty reports from valgrind for your project
		3584	I suggest using suppression lists.
		3585
		3586
2128	=head1 AUTHOR	3587	=head1 AUTHOR
2129		3588
2130	Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>.	3589	Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>.
2131		3590

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