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Revision 1.57 by root, Wed Nov 28 11:27:29 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.66 by root, Mon Dec 3 13:41:25 2007 UTC

63details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by I<starting> the 63details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by I<starting> the
64watcher. 64watcher.
65 65
66=head1 FEATURES 66=head1 FEATURES
67 67
68Libev supports C<select>, C<poll>, the linux-specific C<epoll>, the 68Libev supports C<select>, C<poll>, the Linux-specific C<epoll>, the
69bsd-specific C<kqueue> and the solaris-specific event port mechanisms 69BSD-specific C<kqueue> and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms
70for file descriptor events (C<ev_io>), relative timers (C<ev_timer>), 70for file descriptor events (C<ev_io>), the Linux C<inotify> interface
71(for C<ev_stat>), relative timers (C<ev_timer>), absolute timers
71absolute timers with customised rescheduling (C<ev_periodic>), synchronous 72with customised rescheduling (C<ev_periodic>), synchronous signals
72signals (C<ev_signal>), process status change events (C<ev_child>), and 73(C<ev_signal>), process status change events (C<ev_child>), and event
73event watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (C<ev_idle>, 74watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (C<ev_idle>,
74C<ev_embed>, C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> watchers) as well as 75C<ev_embed>, C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> watchers) as well as
75file watchers (C<ev_stat>) and even limited support for fork events 76file watchers (C<ev_stat>) and even limited support for fork events
76(C<ev_fork>). 77(C<ev_fork>).
77 78
78It also is quite fast (see this 79It also is quite fast (see this
162C<ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for 163C<ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for
163recommended ones. 164recommended ones.
164 165
165See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info. 166See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
166 167
167=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, size_t size)) 168=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))
168 169
169Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype and semantics are 170Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the
170identical to the realloc C function). It is used to allocate and free 171semantics is identical - to the realloc C function). It is used to
171memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when memory needs to be 172allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when
172allocated, the library might abort or take some potentially destructive 173memory needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some
173action. The default is your system realloc function. 174potentially destructive action. The default is your system realloc
175function.
174 176
175You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say, 177You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,
176free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator, 178free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,
177or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available. 179or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.
178 180
264C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will 266C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
265override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is 267override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is
266useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work 268useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work
267around bugs. 269around bugs.
268 270
271=item C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>
272
273Instead of calling C<ev_default_fork> or C<ev_loop_fork> manually after
274a fork, you can also make libev check for a fork in each iteration by
275enabling this flag.
276
277This works by calling C<getpid ()> on every iteration of the loop,
278and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop
279iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my
280Linux system for example, C<getpid> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence
281without a syscall and thus I<very> fast, but my Linux system also has
282C<pthread_atfork> which is even faster).
283
284The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and
285forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this
286flag.
287
288This flag setting cannot be overriden or specified in the C<LIBEV_FLAGS>
289environment variable.
290
269=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend) 291=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)
270 292
271This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as 293This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as
272libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds, 294libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,
273but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when 295but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when
407=item ev_loop_fork (loop) 429=item ev_loop_fork (loop)
408 430
409Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by 431Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by
410C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop 432C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
411after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem. 433after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.
434
435=item unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)
436
437Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to
438the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at C<0> and
439happily wraps around with enough iterations.
440
441This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it
442"ticks" the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with
443C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> calls.
412 444
413=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop) 445=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)
414 446
415Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in 447Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in
416use. 448use.
914=item ev_timer_again (loop) 946=item ev_timer_again (loop)
915 947
916This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is 948This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
917repeating. The exact semantics are: 949repeating. The exact semantics are:
918 950
951If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.
952
919If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it. 953If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it (as if it timed out).
920 954
921If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the repeat 955If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the
922value), or reset the running timer to the repeat value. 956C<repeat> value), or reset the running timer to the C<repeat> value.
923 957
924This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical 958This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical
925example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called 959example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle
926idle timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, 960timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60
927say, 60 seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do 961seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to
928this is to configure an C<ev_timer> with C<after>=C<repeat>=C<60> and calling 962configure an C<ev_timer> with a C<repeat> value of C<60> and then call
929C<ev_timer_again> each time you successfully read or write some data. If 963C<ev_timer_again> each time you successfully read or write some data. If
930you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the 964you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the
931socket, you can stop the timer, and again will automatically restart it if 965socket, you can C<ev_timer_stop> the timer, and C<ev_timer_again> will
932need be. 966automatically restart it if need be.
933 967
934You can also ignore the C<after> value and C<ev_timer_start> altogether 968That means you can ignore the C<after> value and C<ev_timer_start>
935and only ever use the C<repeat> value: 969altogether and only ever use the C<repeat> value and C<ev_timer_again>:
936 970
937 ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.); 971 ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);
938 ev_timer_again (loop, timer); 972 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
939 ... 973 ...
940 timer->again = 17.; 974 timer->again = 17.;
941 ev_timer_again (loop, timer); 975 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
942 ... 976 ...
943 timer->again = 10.; 977 timer->again = 10.;
944 ev_timer_again (loop, timer); 978 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
945 979
946This is more efficient then stopping/starting the timer eahc time you want 980This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time
947to modify its timeout value. 981you want to modify its timeout value.
948 982
949=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write] 983=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]
950 984
951The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out 985The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
952or C<ev_timer_again> is called and determines the next timeout (if any), 986or C<ev_timer_again> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),
1220The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does 1254The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does
1221not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does 1255not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does
1222not exist" is signified by the C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is 1256not exist" is signified by the C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is
1223otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of 1257otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of
1224the stat buffer having unspecified contents. 1258the stat buffer having unspecified contents.
1259
1260The path I<should> be absolute and I<must not> end in a slash. If it is
1261relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.
1225 1262
1226Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply 1263Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply
1227calls C<stat (2)> regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You 1264calls C<stat (2)> regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You
1228can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify 1265can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify
1229a polling interval of C<0> (highly recommended!) then a I<suitable, 1266a polling interval of C<0> (highly recommended!) then a I<suitable,
1430 1467
1431 // create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking 1468 // create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
1432 static void 1469 static void
1433 adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents) 1470 adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
1434 { 1471 {
1435 int timeout = 3600000;truct pollfd fds [nfd]; 1472 int timeout = 3600000;
1473 struct pollfd fds [nfd];
1436 // actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc. 1474 // actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
1437 adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ())); 1475 adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
1438 1476
1439 /* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */ 1477 /* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
1440 ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3); 1478 ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);
1821Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default 1859Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
1822loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default"). 1860loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").
1823 1861
1824=back 1862=back
1825 1863
1826Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, working regardless of 1864Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above
1827wether multiple loops are supported or not. 1865macros so it will work regardless of wether multiple loops are supported
1866or not.
1828 1867
1829 static void 1868 static void
1830 check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents) 1869 check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1831 { 1870 {
1832 ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w); 1871 ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);
1834 1873
1835 ev_check check; 1874 ev_check check;
1836 ev_check_init (&check, check_cb); 1875 ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);
1837 ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check); 1876 ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);
1838 ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0); 1877 ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
1839
1840 1878
1841=head1 EMBEDDING 1879=head1 EMBEDDING
1842 1880
1843Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host 1881Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
1844applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra 1882applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
1884 ev_vars.h 1922 ev_vars.h
1885 ev_wrap.h 1923 ev_wrap.h
1886 1924
1887 ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only 1925 ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only
1888 1926
1889 ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is by default) 1927 ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)
1890 ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default) 1928 ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1891 ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default) 1929 ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1892 ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default) 1930 ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1893 ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default) 1931 ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1894 1932
2136interface) and F<EV.xs> (implementation) files. Only the F<EV.xs> file 2174interface) and F<EV.xs> (implementation) files. Only the F<EV.xs> file
2137will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header 2175will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header
2138file. 2176file.
2139 2177
2140The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file 2178The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file
2141that everybody includes and which overrides some autoconf choices: 2179that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:
2142 2180
2181 #define EV_MINIMAL 1
2143 #define EV_USE_POLL 0 2182 #define EV_USE_POLL 0
2144 #define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0 2183 #define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
2145 #define EV_PERIODICS 0 2184 #define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0
2185 #define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0
2186 #define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0
2146 #define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h> 2187 #define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>
2188 #define EV_MINPRI 0
2189 #define EV_MAXPRI 0
2147 2190
2148 #include "ev++.h" 2191 #include "ev++.h"
2149 2192
2150And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled: 2193And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:
2151 2194

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