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Revision 1.74 by root, Sat Dec 8 14:12:08 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.194 by root, Mon Oct 20 16:08:36 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	#include <ev.h>	7	#include <ev.h>
8		8
9	=head1 EXAMPLE PROGRAM	9	=head2 EXAMPLE PROGRAM
10		10
		11	// a single header file is required
11	#include <ev.h>	12	#include <ev.h>
12		13
		14	// every watcher type has its own typedef'd struct
		15	// with the name ev_<type>
13	ev_io stdin_watcher;	16	ev_io stdin_watcher;
14	ev_timer timeout_watcher;	17	ev_timer timeout_watcher;
15		18
16	/* 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
17	static void	21	static void
18	stdin_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_io *w, int revents)	22	stdin_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_io *w, int revents)
19	{	23	{
20	/* puts ("stdin ready"); */	24	puts ("stdin ready");
21	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w); /* just a syntax example */	25	// for one-shot events, one must manually stop the watcher
22	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);
23	}	31	}
24		32
		33	// another callback, this time for a time-out
25	static void	34	static void
26	timeout_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	35	timeout_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
27	{	36	{
28	/* puts ("timeout"); */	37	puts ("timeout");
29	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);
30	}	40	}
31		41
32	int	42	int
33	main (void)	43	main (void)
34	{	44	{
		45	// use the default event loop unless you have special needs
35	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);	46	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
36		47
37	/* 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
38	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);
39	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);	51	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
40		52
		53	// initialise a timer watcher, then start it
41	/* simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout */	54	// simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout
42	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);	55	ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
43	ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);	56	ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);
44		57
45	/* loop till timeout or data ready */	58	// now wait for events to arrive
46	ev_loop (loop, 0);	59	ev_loop (loop, 0);
47		60
		61	// unloop was called, so exit
48	return 0;	62	return 0;
49	}	63	}
50		64
51	=head1 DESCRIPTION	65	=head1 DESCRIPTION
52		66
53	The newest version of this document is also available as a html-formatted	67	The newest version of this document is also available as an html-formatted
54	web page you might find easier to navigate when reading it for the first	68	web page you might find easier to navigate when reading it for the first
55	time: L<http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.html>.	69	time: L<http://pod.tst.eu/http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.pod>.
56		70
57	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
58	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
59	these event sources and provide your program with events.	73	these event sources and provide your program with events.
60		74
61	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
62	(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
63	communicate events via a callback mechanism.	77	communicate events via a callback mechanism.
…		…
65	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
66	watchers>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the	80	watchers>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the
67	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
68	watcher.	82	watcher.
69		83
70	=head1 FEATURES	84	=head2 FEATURES
71		85
72	Libev supports C<select>, C<poll>, the Linux-specific C<epoll>, the	86	Libev supports C<select>, C<poll>, the Linux-specific C<epoll>, the
73	BSD-specific C<kqueue> and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms	87	BSD-specific C<kqueue> and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms
74	for file descriptor events (C<ev_io>), the Linux C<inotify> interface	88	for file descriptor events (C<ev_io>), the Linux C<inotify> interface
75	(for C<ev_stat>), relative timers (C<ev_timer>), absolute timers	89	(for C<ev_stat>), relative timers (C<ev_timer>), absolute timers
…		…
82		96
83	It also is quite fast (see this	97	It also is quite fast (see this
84	L<benchmark|http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html> comparing it to libevent	98	L<benchmark|http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html> comparing it to libevent
85	for example).	99	for example).
86		100
87	=head1 CONVENTIONS	101	=head2 CONVENTIONS
88		102
89	Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration will	103	Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default (and most common)
90	be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info about	104	configuration will be described, which supports multiple event loops. For
91	various configuration options please have a look at B<EMBED> section in	105	more info about various configuration options please have a look at
92	this manual. If libev was configured without support for multiple event	106	B<EMBED> section in this manual. If libev was configured without support
93	loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of name C<loop>	107	for multiple event loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of
94	(which is always of type C<struct ev_loop *>) will not have this argument.	108	name C<loop> (which is always of type C<struct ev_loop *>) will not have
		109	this argument.
95		110
96	=head1 TIME REPRESENTATION	111	=head2 TIME REPRESENTATION
97		112
98	Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the	113	Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the
99	(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near	114	(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near
100	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
101	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
102	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
103	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
104		142
105	=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS	143	=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
106		144
107	These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the	145	These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the
108	library in any way.	146	library in any way.
…		…
113		151
114	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
115	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
116	you actually want to know.	154	you actually want to know.
117		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
118	=item int ev_version_major ()	162	=item int ev_version_major ()
119		163
120	=item int ev_version_minor ()	164	=item int ev_version_minor ()
121		165
122	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
123	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
124	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
125	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
126	version of the library your program was compiled against.	170	version of the library your program was compiled against.
127		171
		172	These version numbers refer to the ABI version of the library, not the
		173	release version.
		174
128	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,
129	as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually	176	as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
130	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
131	not a problem.	178	not a problem.
132		179
133	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
134	version.	181	version.
135		182
136	assert (("libev version mismatch",	183	assert (("libev version mismatch",
137	ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR	184	ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR
138	&& ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));	185	&& ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));
139		186
140	=item unsigned int ev_supported_backends ()	187	=item unsigned int ev_supported_backends ()
141		188
142	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_*>
143	value) compiled into this binary of libev (independent of their	190	value) compiled into this binary of libev (independent of their
…		…
145	a description of the set values.	192	a description of the set values.
146		193
147	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
148	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
149		196
150	assert (("sorry, no epoll, no sex",	197	assert (("sorry, no epoll, no sex",
151	ev_supported_backends () & EVBACKEND_EPOLL));	198	ev_supported_backends () & EVBACKEND_EPOLL));
152		199
153	=item unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()	200	=item unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()
154		201
155	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
156	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
157	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
158	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
159	(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
160	libev will probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.	207	libev will probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.
161		208
162	=item unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()	209	=item unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()
163		210
…		…
167	C<ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for	214	C<ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for
168	recommended ones.	215	recommended ones.
169		216
170	See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.	217	See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
171		218
172	=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))	219	=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size)) [NOT REENTRANT]
173		220
174	Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the	221	Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the
175	semantics is identical - to the realloc C function). It is used to	222	semantics are identical to the C<realloc> C89/SuS/POSIX function). It is
176	allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when	223	used to allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero
177	memory needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some	224	when memory needs to be allocated (C<size != 0>), the library might abort
178	potentially destructive action. The default is your system realloc	225	or take some potentially destructive action.
179	function.	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.
180		230
181	You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,	231	You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,
182	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,
183	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.
184		234
185	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
186	retries).	236	retries (example requires a standards-compliant C<realloc>).
187		237
188	static void *	238	static void *
189	persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)	239	persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)
190	{	240	{
191	for (;;)	241	for (;;)
…		…
200	}	250	}
201		251
202	...	252	...
203	ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);	253	ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);
204		254
205	=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg));	255	=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg)); [NOT REENTRANT]
206		256
207	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
208	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
209	indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this	259	indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this
210	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
211	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
212	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
213	(such as abort).	263	(such as abort).
214		264
215	Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.	265	Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.
…		…
230		280
231	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
232	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
233	events, and dynamically created loops which do not.	283	events, and dynamically created loops which do not.
234		284
235	If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop
236	in your main thread (or in a separate thread) and for each thread you
237	create, you also create another event loop. Libev itself does no locking
238	whatsoever, so if you mix calls to the same event loop in different
239	threads, make sure you lock (this is usually a bad idea, though, even if
240	done correctly, because it's hideous and inefficient).
241
242	=over 4	285	=over 4
243		286
244	=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)	287	=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)
245		288
246	This will initialise the default event loop if it hasn't been initialised	289	This will initialise the default event loop if it hasn't been initialised
…		…
249	flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards).	292	flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards).
250		293
251	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
252	function.	295	function.
253		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
254	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
255	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>).
256		310
257	The following flags are supported:	311	The following flags are supported:
258		312
…		…
263	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
264	thing, believe me).	318	thing, believe me).
265		319
266	=item C<EVFLAG_NOENV>	320	=item C<EVFLAG_NOENV>
267		321
268	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
269	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
270	C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will	324	C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
271	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
272	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
273	around bugs.	327	around bugs.
…		…
279	enabling this flag.	333	enabling this flag.
280		334
281	This works by calling C<getpid ()> on every iteration of the loop,	335	This works by calling C<getpid ()> on every iteration of the loop,
282	and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop	336	and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop
283	iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my	337	iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my
284	Linux system for example, C<getpid> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence	338	GNU/Linux system for example, C<getpid> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence
285	without a syscall and thus I<very> fast, but my Linux system also has	339	without a system call and thus I<very> fast, but my GNU/Linux system also has
286	C<pthread_atfork> which is even faster).	340	C<pthread_atfork> which is even faster).
287		341
288	The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and	342	The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and
289	forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this	343	forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this
290	flag.	344	flag.
291		345
292	This flag setting cannot be overriden or specified in the C<LIBEV_FLAGS>	346	This flag setting cannot be overridden or specified in the C<LIBEV_FLAGS>
293	environment variable.	347	environment variable.
294		348
295	=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)	349	=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)
296		350
297	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
298	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,
299	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
300	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
301	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).
302		367
303	=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)
304		369
305	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
306	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
307	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
308	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>.
309		379
310	=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)	380	=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)
311		381
312	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,
313	but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale like	383	but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale
314	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),
315	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.
316		389
317	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
318	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
319	(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
320	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
321	well if you register events for both fds.	394	very well if you register events for both fds.
322		395
323	Please note that epoll sometimes generates spurious notifications, so you	396	Please note that epoll sometimes generates spurious notifications, so you
324	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
325	(or space) is available.	398	(or space) is available.
326		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,
		402	i.e. keep at least one watcher active per fd at all times. Stopping and
		403	starting a watcher (without re-setting it) also usually doesn't cause
		404	extra overhead.
		405
		406	While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this feature is broken in
		407	all kernel versions tested so far.
		408
		409	This backend maps C<EV_READ> and C<EV_WRITE> in the same way as
		410	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
		411
327	=item C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE> (value 8, most BSD clones)	412	=item C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE> (value 8, most BSD clones)
328		413
329	Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it	414	Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it was
330	was broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work with	415	broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work reliably with
331	anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course its	416	anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course it's
332	completely useless). For this reason its not being "autodetected"	417	completely useless). For this reason it's not being "auto-detected" unless
333	unless you explicitly specify it explicitly in the flags (i.e. using	418	you explicitly specify it in the flags (i.e. using C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>) or
334	C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>).	419	libev was compiled on a known-to-be-good (-enough) system like NetBSD.
		420
		421	You still can embed kqueue into a normal poll or select backend and use it
		422	only for sockets (after having made sure that sockets work with kqueue on
		423	the target platform). See C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
335		424
336	It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the	425	It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the
337	kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of	426	kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of
338	course). While starting and stopping an I/O watcher does not cause an	427	course). While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher does never
339	extra syscall as with epoll, it still adds up to four event changes per	428	cause an extra system call as with C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL>, it still adds up to
340	incident, so its best to avoid that.	429	two event changes per incident. Support for C<fork ()> is very bad and it
		430	drops fds silently in similarly hard-to-detect cases.
		431
		432	This backend usually performs well under most conditions.
		433
		434	While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this doesn't work
		435	everywhere, so you might need to test for this. And since it is broken
		436	almost everywhere, you should only use it when you have a lot of sockets
		437	(for which it usually works), by embedding it into another event loop
		438	(e.g. C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>) and, did I mention it,
		439	using it only for sockets.
		440
		441	This backend maps C<EV_READ> into an C<EVFILT_READ> kevent with
		442	C<NOTE_EOF>, and C<EV_WRITE> into an C<EVFILT_WRITE> kevent with
		443	C<NOTE_EOF>.
341		444
342	=item C<EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL> (value 16, Solaris 8)	445	=item C<EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL> (value 16, Solaris 8)
343		446
344	This is not implemented yet (and might never be).	447	This is not implemented yet (and might never be, unless you send me an
		448	implementation). According to reports, C</dev/poll> only supports sockets
		449	and is not embeddable, which would limit the usefulness of this backend
		450	immensely.
345		451
346	=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)	452	=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)
347		453
348	This uses the Solaris 10 port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,	454	This uses the Solaris 10 event port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,
349	it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).	455	it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).
350		456
351	Please note that solaris ports can result in a lot of spurious	457	Please note that Solaris event ports can deliver a lot of spurious
352	notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid	458	notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid
353	blocking when no data (or space) is available.	459	blocking when no data (or space) is available.
		460
		461	While this backend scales well, it requires one system call per active
		462	file descriptor per loop iteration. For small and medium numbers of file
		463	descriptors a "slow" C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL> backend
		464	might perform better.
		465
		466	On the positive side, with the exception of the spurious readiness
		467	notifications, this backend actually performed fully to specification
		468	in all tests and is fully embeddable, which is a rare feat among the
		469	OS-specific backends.
		470
		471	This backend maps C<EV_READ> and C<EV_WRITE> in the same way as
		472	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
354		473
355	=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>	474	=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>
356		475
357	Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried	476	Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried
358	with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as	477	with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as
359	C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.	478	C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.
360		479
		480	It is definitely not recommended to use this flag.
		481
361	=back	482	=back
362		483
363	If one or more of these are ored into the flags value, then only these	484	If one or more of these are or'ed into the flags value, then only these
364	backends will be tried (in the reverse order as given here). If none are	485	backends will be tried (in the reverse order as listed here). If none are
365	specified, most compiled-in backend will be tried, usually in reverse	486	specified, all backends in C<ev_recommended_backends ()> will be tried.
366	order of their flag values :)
367		487
368	The most typical usage is like this:	488	Example: This is the most typical usage.
369		489
370	if (!ev_default_loop (0))	490	if (!ev_default_loop (0))
371	fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");	491	fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");
372		492
373	Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow	493	Example: Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow
374	environment settings to be taken into account:	494	environment settings to be taken into account:
375		495
376	ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);	496	ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);
377		497
378	Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is used if	498	Example: Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is
379	available (warning, breaks stuff, best use only with your own private	499	used if available (warning, breaks stuff, best use only with your own
380	event loop and only if you know the OS supports your types of fds):	500	private event loop and only if you know the OS supports your types of
		501	fds):
381		502
382	ev_default_loop (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);	503	ev_default_loop (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);
383		504
384	=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)	505	=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)
385		506
386	Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is	507	Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is
387	always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot	508	always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot
388	handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by	509	handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
389	undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).	510	undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).
390		511
		512	Note that this function I<is> thread-safe, and the recommended way to use
		513	libev with threads is indeed to create one loop per thread, and using the
		514	default loop in the "main" or "initial" thread.
		515
391	Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.	516	Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.
392		517
393	struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);	518	struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
394	if (!epoller)	519	if (!epoller)
395	fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");	520	fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");
396		521
397	=item ev_default_destroy ()	522	=item ev_default_destroy ()
398		523
399	Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state	524	Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state
400	etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal	525	etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal
401	sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your	526	sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your
402	responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yoursef I<before>	527	responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yourself I<before>
403	calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually	528	calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually
404	the easiest thing, youc na just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them	529	the easiest thing, you can just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them
405	for example).	530	for example).
		531
		532	Note that certain global state, such as signal state, will not be freed by
		533	this function, and related watchers (such as signal and child watchers)
		534	would need to be stopped manually.
		535
		536	In general it is not advisable to call this function except in the
		537	rare occasion where you really need to free e.g. the signal handling
		538	pipe fds. If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use
		539	C<ev_loop_new> and C<ev_loop_destroy>).
406		540
407	=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)	541	=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)
408		542
409	Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an	543	Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an
410	earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>.	544	earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>.
411		545
412	=item ev_default_fork ()	546	=item ev_default_fork ()
413		547
		548	This function sets a flag that causes subsequent C<ev_loop> iterations
414	This function reinitialises the kernel state for backends that have	549	to reinitialise the kernel state for backends that have one. Despite the
415	one. Despite the name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense	550	name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense after forking, in
416	after forking, in either the parent or child process (or both, but that	551	the child process (or both child and parent, but that again makes little
417	again makes little sense).	552	sense). You I<must> call it in the child before using any of the libev
		553	functions, and it will only take effect at the next C<ev_loop> iteration.
418		554
419	You I<must> call this function in the child process after forking if and	555	On the other hand, you only need to call this function in the child
420	only if you want to use the event library in both processes. If you just	556	process if and only if you want to use the event library in the child. If
421	fork+exec, you don't have to call it.	557	you just fork+exec, you don't have to call it at all.
422		558
423	The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call	559	The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call
424	it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in	560	it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in
425	quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>:	561	quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>:
426		562
427	pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork);	563	pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork);
428		564
429	At the moment, C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and C<EVBACKEND_POLL> are safe to use
430	without calling this function, so if you force one of those backends you
431	do not need to care.
432
433	=item ev_loop_fork (loop)	565	=item ev_loop_fork (loop)
434		566
435	Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by	567	Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by
436	C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop	568	C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
437	after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.	569	after fork that you want to re-use in the child, and how you do this is
		570	entirely your own problem.
		571
		572	=item int ev_is_default_loop (loop)
		573
		574	Returns true when the given loop is, in fact, the default loop, and false
		575	otherwise.
438		576
439	=item unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)	577	=item unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)
440		578
441	Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to	579	Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to
442	the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at C<0> and	580	the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at C<0> and
…		…
455		593
456	Returns the current "event loop time", which is the time the event loop	594	Returns the current "event loop time", which is the time the event loop
457	received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not	595	received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not
458	change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base	596	change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base
459	time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the	597	time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the
460	event occuring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).	598	event occurring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).
		599
		600	=item ev_now_update (loop)
		601
		602	Establishes the current time by querying the kernel, updating the time
		603	returned by C<ev_now ()> in the progress. This is a costly operation and
		604	is usually done automatically within C<ev_loop ()>.
		605
		606	This function is rarely useful, but when some event callback runs for a
		607	very long time without entering the event loop, updating libev's idea of
		608	the current time is a good idea.
		609
		610	See also "The special problem of time updates" in the C<ev_timer> section.
461		611
462	=item ev_loop (loop, int flags)	612	=item ev_loop (loop, int flags)
463		613
464	Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called	614	Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called
465	after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling	615	after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling
…		…
468	If the flags argument is specified as C<0>, it will not return until	618	If the flags argument is specified as C<0>, it will not return until
469	either no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_unloop> was called.	619	either no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_unloop> was called.
470		620
471	Please note that an explicit C<ev_unloop> is usually better than	621	Please note that an explicit C<ev_unloop> is usually better than
472	relying on all watchers to be stopped when deciding when a program has	622	relying on all watchers to be stopped when deciding when a program has
473	finished (especially in interactive programs), but having a program that	623	finished (especially in interactive programs), but having a program
474	automatically loops as long as it has to and no longer by virtue of	624	that automatically loops as long as it has to and no longer by virtue
475	relying on its watchers stopping correctly is a thing of beauty.	625	of relying on its watchers stopping correctly, that is truly a thing of
		626	beauty.
476		627
477	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle	628	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle
478	those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in	629	those events and any already outstanding ones, but will not block your
479	case there are no events and will return after one iteration of the loop.	630	process in case there are no events and will return after one iteration of
		631	the loop.
480		632
481	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if	633	A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if
482	neccessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block	634	necessary) and will handle those and any already outstanding ones. It
483	your process until at least one new event arrives, and will return after	635	will block your process until at least one new event arrives (which could
484	one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some	636	be an event internal to libev itself, so there is no guarentee that a
485	external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other	637	user-registered callback will be called), and will return after one
		638	iteration of the loop.
		639
		640	This is useful if you are waiting for some external event in conjunction
		641	with something not expressible using other libev watchers (i.e. "roll your
486	libev watchers. However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is	642	own C<ev_loop>"). However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is
487	usually a better approach for this kind of thing.	643	usually a better approach for this kind of thing.
488		644
489	Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does:	645	Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does:
490		646
491	* If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return.	647	- Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
492	- Queue prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers.	648	* If EVFLAG_FORKCHECK was used, check for a fork.
		649	- If a fork was detected (by any means), queue and call all fork watchers.
		650	- Queue and call all prepare watchers.
493	- If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.	651	- If we have been forked, detach and recreate the kernel state
		652	as to not disturb the other process.
494	- Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.	653	- Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
495	- Update the "event loop time".	654	- Update the "event loop time" (ev_now ()).
496	- Calculate for how long to block.	655	- Calculate for how long to sleep or block, if at all
		656	(active idle watchers, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK or not having
		657	any active watchers at all will result in not sleeping).
		658	- Sleep if the I/O and timer collect interval say so.
497	- Block the process, waiting for any events.	659	- Block the process, waiting for any events.
498	- Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.	660	- Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.
499	- Update the "event loop time" and do time jump handling.	661	- Update the "event loop time" (ev_now ()), and do time jump adjustments.
500	- Queue all outstanding timers.	662	- Queue all expired timers.
501	- Queue all outstanding periodics.	663	- Queue all expired periodics.
502	- If no events are pending now, queue all idle watchers.	664	- Unless any events are pending now, queue all idle watchers.
503	- Queue all check watchers.	665	- Queue all check watchers.
504	- Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).	666	- Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).
505	Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will	667	Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will
506	be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.	668	be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
507	- If ev_unloop has been called or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK	669	- If ev_unloop has been called, or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK
508	were used, return, otherwise continue with step *.	670	were used, or there are no active watchers, return, otherwise
		671	continue with step *.
509		672
510	Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding	673	Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outstanding
511	anymore.	674	anymore.
512		675
513	... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long	676	... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
514	... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)	677	... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
515	ev_loop (my_loop, 0);	678	ev_loop (my_loop, 0);
516	... jobs done. yeah!	679	... jobs done or somebody called unloop. yeah!
517		680
518	=item ev_unloop (loop, how)	681	=item ev_unloop (loop, how)
519		682
520	Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early (but only after it	683	Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early (but only after it
521	has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either	684	has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either
522	C<EVUNLOOP_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_loop> call return, or	685	C<EVUNLOOP_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_loop> call return, or
523	C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> calls return.	686	C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> calls return.
524		687
		688	This "unloop state" will be cleared when entering C<ev_loop> again.
		689
		690	It is safe to call C<ev_unloop> from otuside any C<ev_loop> calls.
		691
525	=item ev_ref (loop)	692	=item ev_ref (loop)
526		693
527	=item ev_unref (loop)	694	=item ev_unref (loop)
528		695
529	Ref/unref can be used to add or remove a reference count on the event	696	Ref/unref can be used to add or remove a reference count on the event
530	loop: Every watcher keeps one reference, and as long as the reference	697	loop: Every watcher keeps one reference, and as long as the reference
531	count is nonzero, C<ev_loop> will not return on its own. If you have	698	count is nonzero, C<ev_loop> will not return on its own.
		699
532	a watcher you never unregister that should not keep C<ev_loop> from	700	If you have a watcher you never unregister that should not keep C<ev_loop>
533	returning, ev_unref() after starting, and ev_ref() before stopping it. For	701	from returning, call ev_unref() after starting, and ev_ref() before
		702	stopping it.
		703
534	example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not	704	As an example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is
535	visible to the libev user and should not keep C<ev_loop> from exiting if	705	not visible to the libev user and should not keep C<ev_loop> from exiting
536	no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent	706	if no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent
537	way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party	707	way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party
538	libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref before stop>.	708	libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref before stop>
		709	(but only if the watcher wasn't active before, or was active before,
		710	respectively).
539		711
540	Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_loop>	712	Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_loop>
541	running when nothing else is active.	713	running when nothing else is active.
542		714
543	struct ev_signal exitsig;	715	struct ev_signal exitsig;
544	ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);	716	ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
545	ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);	717	ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);
546	evf_unref (loop);	718	evf_unref (loop);
547		719
548	Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.	720	Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.
549		721
550	ev_ref (loop);	722	ev_ref (loop);
551	ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);	723	ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);
		724
		725	=item ev_set_io_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
		726
		727	=item ev_set_timeout_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
		728
		729	These advanced functions influence the time that libev will spend waiting
		730	for events. Both time intervals are by default C<0>, meaning that libev
		731	will try to invoke timer/periodic callbacks and I/O callbacks with minimum
		732	latency.
		733
		734	Setting these to a higher value (the C<interval> I<must> be >= C<0>)
		735	allows libev to delay invocation of I/O and timer/periodic callbacks
		736	to increase efficiency of loop iterations (or to increase power-saving
		737	opportunities).
		738
		739	The idea is that sometimes your program runs just fast enough to handle
		740	one (or very few) event(s) per loop iteration. While this makes the
		741	program responsive, it also wastes a lot of CPU time to poll for new
		742	events, especially with backends like C<select ()> which have a high
		743	overhead for the actual polling but can deliver many events at once.
		744
		745	By setting a higher I<io collect interval> you allow libev to spend more
		746	time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration,
		747	at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both C<ev_periodic> and
		748	C<ev_timer>) will be not affected. Setting this to a non-null value will
		749	introduce an additional C<ev_sleep ()> call into most loop iterations.
		750
		751	Likewise, by setting a higher I<timeout collect interval> you allow libev
		752	to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased
		753	latency/jitter/inexactness (the watcher callback will be called
		754	later). C<ev_io> watchers will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null
		755	value will not introduce any overhead in libev.
		756
		757	Many (busy) programs can usually benefit by setting the I/O collect
		758	interval to a value near C<0.1> or so, which is often enough for
		759	interactive servers (of course not for games), likewise for timeouts. It
		760	usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than C<0.01>,
		761	as this approaches the timing granularity of most systems.
		762
		763	Setting the I<timeout collect interval> can improve the opportunity for
		764	saving power, as the program will "bundle" timer callback invocations that
		765	are "near" in time together, by delaying some, thus reducing the number of
		766	times the process sleeps and wakes up again. Another useful technique to
		767	reduce iterations/wake-ups is to use C<ev_periodic> watchers and make sure
		768	they fire on, say, one-second boundaries only.
		769
		770	=item ev_loop_verify (loop)
		771
		772	This function only does something when C<EV_VERIFY> support has been
		773	compiled in. which is the default for non-minimal builds. It tries to go
		774	through all internal structures and checks them for validity. If anything
		775	is found to be inconsistent, it will print an error message to standard
		776	error and call C<abort ()>.
		777
		778	This can be used to catch bugs inside libev itself: under normal
		779	circumstances, this function will never abort as of course libev keeps its
		780	data structures consistent.
552		781
553	=back	782	=back
554		783
555		784
556	=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER	785	=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER
557		786
558	A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your	787	A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your
559	interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to	788	interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to
560	become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher for that:	789	become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher for that:
561		790
562	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)	791	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
563	{	792	{
564	ev_io_stop (w);	793	ev_io_stop (w);
565	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);	794	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
566	}	795	}
567		796
568	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);	797	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
569	struct ev_io stdin_watcher;	798	struct ev_io stdin_watcher;
570	ev_init (&stdin_watcher, my_cb);	799	ev_init (&stdin_watcher, my_cb);
571	ev_io_set (&stdin_watcher, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);	800	ev_io_set (&stdin_watcher, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
572	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);	801	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
573	ev_loop (loop, 0);	802	ev_loop (loop, 0);
574		803
575	As you can see, you are responsible for allocating the memory for your	804	As you can see, you are responsible for allocating the memory for your
576	watcher structures (and it is usually a bad idea to do this on the stack,	805	watcher structures (and it is usually a bad idea to do this on the stack,
577	although this can sometimes be quite valid).	806	although this can sometimes be quite valid).
578		807
579	Each watcher structure must be initialised by a call to C<ev_init	808	Each watcher structure must be initialised by a call to C<ev_init
580	(watcher *, callback)>, which expects a callback to be provided. This	809	(watcher *, callback)>, which expects a callback to be provided. This
581	callback gets invoked each time the event occurs (or, in the case of io	810	callback gets invoked each time the event occurs (or, in the case of I/O
582	watchers, each time the event loop detects that the file descriptor given	811	watchers, each time the event loop detects that the file descriptor given
583	is readable and/or writable).	812	is readable and/or writable).
584		813
585	Each watcher type has its own C<< ev_<type>_set (watcher *, ...) >> macro	814	Each watcher type has its own C<< ev_<type>_set (watcher *, ...) >> macro
586	with arguments specific to this watcher type. There is also a macro	815	with arguments specific to this watcher type. There is also a macro
…		…
656	=item C<EV_FORK>	885	=item C<EV_FORK>
657		886
658	The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see	887	The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
659	C<ev_fork>).	888	C<ev_fork>).
660		889
		890	=item C<EV_ASYNC>
		891
		892	The given async watcher has been asynchronously notified (see C<ev_async>).
		893
661	=item C<EV_ERROR>	894	=item C<EV_ERROR>
662		895
663	An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might	896	An unspecified error has occurred, the watcher has been stopped. This might
664	happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev	897	happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev
665	ran out of memory, a file descriptor was found to be closed or any other	898	ran out of memory, a file descriptor was found to be closed or any other
666	problem. You best act on it by reporting the problem and somehow coping	899	problem. You best act on it by reporting the problem and somehow coping
667	with the watcher being stopped.	900	with the watcher being stopped.
668		901
669	Libev will usually signal a few "dummy" events together with an error,	902	Libev will usually signal a few "dummy" events together with an error, for
670	for example it might indicate that a fd is readable or writable, and if	903	example it might indicate that a fd is readable or writable, and if your
671	your callbacks is well-written it can just attempt the operation and cope	904	callbacks is well-written it can just attempt the operation and cope with
672	with the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multithreaded	905	the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multi-threaded
673	programs, though, so beware.	906	programs, though, as the fd could already be closed and reused for another
		907	thing, so beware.
674		908
675	=back	909	=back
676		910
677	=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS	911	=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS
678		912
…		…
694	(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.	928	(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.
695		929
696	The callback is always of type C<void (*)(ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,	930	The callback is always of type C<void (*)(ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,
697	int revents)>.	931	int revents)>.
698		932
		933	Example: Initialise an C<ev_io> watcher in two steps.
		934
		935	ev_io w;
		936	ev_init (&w, my_cb);
		937	ev_io_set (&w, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
		938
699	=item C<ev_TYPE_set> (ev_TYPE *, [args])	939	=item C<ev_TYPE_set> (ev_TYPE *, [args])
700		940
701	This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to	941	This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to
702	call C<ev_init> at least once before you call this macro, but you can	942	call C<ev_init> at least once before you call this macro, but you can
703	call C<ev_TYPE_set> any number of times. You must not, however, call this	943	call C<ev_TYPE_set> any number of times. You must not, however, call this
…		…
705	difference to the C<ev_init> macro).	945	difference to the C<ev_init> macro).
706		946
707	Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments	947	Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments
708	(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.	948	(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.
709		949
		950	See C<ev_init>, above, for an example.
		951
710	=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])	952	=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])
711		953
712	This convinience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro	954	This convenience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro
713	calls into a single call. This is the most convinient method to initialise	955	calls into a single call. This is the most convenient method to initialise
714	a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.	956	a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.
		957
		958	Example: Initialise and set an C<ev_io> watcher in one step.
		959
		960	ev_io_init (&w, my_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
715		961
716	=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)	962	=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)
717		963
718	Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive	964	Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive
719	events. If the watcher is already active nothing will happen.	965	events. If the watcher is already active nothing will happen.
		966
		967	Example: Start the C<ev_io> watcher that is being abused as example in this
		968	whole section.
		969
		970	ev_io_start (EV_DEFAULT_UC, &w);
720		971
721	=item C<ev_TYPE_stop> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)	972	=item C<ev_TYPE_stop> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)
722		973
723	Stops the given watcher again (if active) and clears the pending	974	Stops the given watcher again (if active) and clears the pending
724	status. It is possible that stopped watchers are pending (for example,	975	status. It is possible that stopped watchers are pending (for example,
…		…
781		1032
782	=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)	1033	=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
783		1034
784	Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither	1035	Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither
785	C<loop> nor C<revents> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback	1036	C<loop> nor C<revents> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
786	can deal with that fact.	1037	can deal with that fact, as both are simply passed through to the
		1038	callback.
787		1039
788	=item int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)	1040	=item int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
789		1041
790	If the watcher is pending, this function returns clears its pending status	1042	If the watcher is pending, this function clears its pending status and
791	and returns its C<revents> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the	1043	returns its C<revents> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
792	watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>.	1044	watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>.
793		1045
		1046	Sometimes it can be useful to "poll" a watcher instead of waiting for its
		1047	callback to be invoked, which can be accomplished with this function.
		1048
794	=back	1049	=back
795		1050
796		1051
797	=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER	1052	=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER
798		1053
799	Each watcher has, by default, a member C<void *data> that you can change	1054	Each watcher has, by default, a member C<void *data> that you can change
800	and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This can be used	1055	and read at any time: libev will completely ignore it. This can be used
801	to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and	1056	to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
802	don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data	1057	don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data
803	member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own	1058	member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own
804	data:	1059	data:
805		1060
806	struct my_io	1061	struct my_io
807	{	1062	{
808	struct ev_io io;	1063	struct ev_io io;
809	int otherfd;	1064	int otherfd;
810	void *somedata;	1065	void *somedata;
811	struct whatever *mostinteresting;	1066	struct whatever *mostinteresting;
812	}	1067	};
		1068
		1069	...
		1070	struct my_io w;
		1071	ev_io_init (&w.io, my_cb, fd, EV_READ);
813		1072
814	And since your callback will be called with a pointer to the watcher, you	1073	And since your callback will be called with a pointer to the watcher, you
815	can cast it back to your own type:	1074	can cast it back to your own type:
816		1075
817	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w_, int revents)	1076	static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w_, int revents)
818	{	1077	{
819	struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;	1078	struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
820	...	1079	...
821	}	1080	}
822		1081
823	More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type	1082	More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type
824	instead have been omitted.	1083	instead have been omitted.
825		1084
826	Another common scenario is having some data structure with multiple	1085	Another common scenario is to use some data structure with multiple
827	watchers:	1086	embedded watchers:
828		1087
829	struct my_biggy	1088	struct my_biggy
830	{	1089	{
831	int some_data;	1090	int some_data;
832	ev_timer t1;	1091	ev_timer t1;
833	ev_timer t2;	1092	ev_timer t2;
834	}	1093	}
835		1094
836	In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more complicated,	1095	In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more
837	you need to use C<offsetof>:	1096	complicated: Either you store the address of your C<my_biggy> struct
		1097	in the C<data> member of the watcher (for woozies), or you need to use
		1098	some pointer arithmetic using C<offsetof> inside your watchers (for real
		1099	programmers):
838		1100
839	#include <stddef.h>	1101	#include <stddef.h>
840		1102
841	static void	1103	static void
842	t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	1104	t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
843	{	1105	{
844	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *	1106	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
845	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));	1107	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
846	}	1108	}
847		1109
848	static void	1110	static void
849	t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	1111	t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
850	{	1112	{
851	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *	1113	struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
852	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));	1114	(((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
853	}	1115	}
854		1116
855		1117
856	=head1 WATCHER TYPES	1118	=head1 WATCHER TYPES
857		1119
858	This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat	1120	This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat
…		…
882	In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per	1144	In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per
883	fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file	1145	fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file
884	descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not	1146	descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
885	required if you know what you are doing).	1147	required if you know what you are doing).
886		1148
887	You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends	1149	If you cannot use non-blocking mode, then force the use of a
888	(the linux epoll backend is a notable example) cannot handle dup'ed file	1150	known-to-be-good backend (at the time of this writing, this includes only
889	descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing	1151	C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and C<EVBACKEND_POLL>).
890	to the same underlying file/socket/etc. description (that is, they share
891	the same underlying "file open").
892
893	If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend
894	(at the time of this writing, this includes only C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and
895	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>).
896		1152
897	Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to	1153	Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
898	receive "spurious" readyness notifications, that is your callback might	1154	receive "spurious" readiness notifications, that is your callback might
899	be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block	1155	be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block
900	because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a	1156	because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a
901	lot of those (for example solaris ports), it is very easy to get into	1157	lot of those (for example Solaris ports), it is very easy to get into
902	this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus	1158	this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus
903	it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning	1159	it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning
904	C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.	1160	C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.
905		1161
906	If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not	1162	If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should
907	play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test	1163	not play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to separately
908	whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface	1164	re-test whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good
909	such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on	1165	interface such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already
910	its own, so its quite safe to use).	1166	does this on its own, so its quite safe to use). Some people additionally
		1167	use C<SIGALRM> and an interval timer, just to be sure you won't block
		1168	indefinitely.
		1169
		1170	But really, best use non-blocking mode.
		1171
		1172	=head3 The special problem of disappearing file descriptors
		1173
		1174	Some backends (e.g. kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file
		1175	descriptor (either due to calling C<close> explicitly or any other means,
		1176	such as C<dup2>). The reason is that you register interest in some file
		1177	descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop
		1178	this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is
		1179	registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in
		1180	fact, a different file descriptor.
		1181
		1182	To avoid having to explicitly tell libev about such cases, libev follows
		1183	the following policy: Each time C<ev_io_set> is being called, libev
		1184	will assume that this is potentially a new file descriptor, otherwise
		1185	it is assumed that the file descriptor stays the same. That means that
		1186	you I<have> to call C<ev_io_set> (or C<ev_io_init>) when you change the
		1187	descriptor even if the file descriptor number itself did not change.
		1188
		1189	This is how one would do it normally anyway, the important point is that
		1190	the libev application should not optimise around libev but should leave
		1191	optimisations to libev.
		1192
		1193	=head3 The special problem of dup'ed file descriptors
		1194
		1195	Some backends (e.g. epoll), cannot register events for file descriptors,
		1196	but only events for the underlying file descriptions. That means when you
		1197	have C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors or weirder constellations, and register
		1198	events for them, only one file descriptor might actually receive events.
		1199
		1200	There is no workaround possible except not registering events
		1201	for potentially C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors, or to resort to
		1202	C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
		1203
		1204	=head3 The special problem of fork
		1205
		1206	Some backends (epoll, kqueue) do not support C<fork ()> at all or exhibit
		1207	useless behaviour. Libev fully supports fork, but needs to be told about
		1208	it in the child.
		1209
		1210	To support fork in your programs, you either have to call
		1211	C<ev_default_fork ()> or C<ev_loop_fork ()> after a fork in the child,
		1212	enable C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>, or resort to C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or
		1213	C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
		1214
		1215	=head3 The special problem of SIGPIPE
		1216
		1217	While not really specific to libev, it is easy to forget about C<SIGPIPE>:
		1218	when writing to a pipe whose other end has been closed, your program gets
		1219	sent a SIGPIPE, which, by default, aborts your program. For most programs
		1220	this is sensible behaviour, for daemons, this is usually undesirable.
		1221
		1222	So when you encounter spurious, unexplained daemon exits, make sure you
		1223	ignore SIGPIPE (and maybe make sure you log the exit status of your daemon
		1224	somewhere, as that would have given you a big clue).
		1225
		1226
		1227	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions
911		1228
912	=over 4	1229	=over 4
913		1230
914	=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)	1231	=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)
915		1232
916	=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)	1233	=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)
917		1234
918	Configures an C<ev_io> watcher. The C<fd> is the file descriptor to	1235	Configures an C<ev_io> watcher. The C<fd> is the file descriptor to
919	rceeive events for and events is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or	1236	receive events for and C<events> is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or
920	C<EV_READ | EV_WRITE> to receive the given events.	1237	C<EV_READ | EV_WRITE>, to express the desire to receive the given events.
921		1238
922	=item int fd [read-only]	1239	=item int fd [read-only]
923		1240
924	The file descriptor being watched.	1241	The file descriptor being watched.
925		1242
926	=item int events [read-only]	1243	=item int events [read-only]
927		1244
928	The events being watched.	1245	The events being watched.
929		1246
930	=back	1247	=back
		1248
		1249	=head3 Examples
931		1250
932	Example: Call C<stdin_readable_cb> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well	1251	Example: Call C<stdin_readable_cb> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well
933	readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could	1252	readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could
934	attempt to read a whole line in the callback.	1253	attempt to read a whole line in the callback.
935		1254
936	static void	1255	static void
937	stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)	1256	stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
938	{	1257	{
939	ev_io_stop (loop, w);	1258	ev_io_stop (loop, w);
940	.. read from stdin here (or from w->fd) and haqndle any I/O errors	1259	.. read from stdin here (or from w->fd) and handle any I/O errors
941	}	1260	}
942		1261
943	...	1262	...
944	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);	1263	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
945	struct ev_io stdin_readable;	1264	struct ev_io stdin_readable;
946	ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);	1265	ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
947	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);	1266	ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);
948	ev_loop (loop, 0);	1267	ev_loop (loop, 0);
949		1268
950		1269
951	=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts	1270	=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts
952		1271
953	Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a	1272	Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a
954	given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.	1273	given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.
955		1274
956	The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that	1275	The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that
957	times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to last years	1276	times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to January last
958	time, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. "Roughly" because	1277	year, it will still time out after (roughly) one hour. "Roughly" because
959	detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the	1278	detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the
960	monotonic clock option helps a lot here).	1279	monotonic clock option helps a lot here).
		1280
		1281	The callback is guaranteed to be invoked only I<after> its timeout has
		1282	passed, but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration
		1283	then order of execution is undefined.
		1284
		1285	=head3 The special problem of time updates
		1286
		1287	Establishing the current time is a costly operation (it usually takes at
		1288	least two system calls): EV therefore updates its idea of the current
		1289	time only before and after C<ev_loop> collects new events, which causes a
		1290	growing difference between C<ev_now ()> and C<ev_time ()> when handling
		1291	lots of events in one iteration.
961		1292
962	The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>	1293	The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>
963	time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time	1294	time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time
964	of the event triggering whatever timeout you are modifying/starting. If	1295	of the event triggering whatever timeout you are modifying/starting. If
965	you suspect event processing to be delayed and you I<need> to base the timeout	1296	you suspect event processing to be delayed and you I<need> to base the
966	on the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:	1297	timeout on the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:
967		1298
968	ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);	1299	ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);
969		1300
970	The callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when its timeout has passed,	1301	If the event loop is suspended for a long time, you can also force an
971	but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then	1302	update of the time returned by C<ev_now ()> by calling C<ev_now_update
972	order of execution is undefined.	1303	()>.
		1304
		1305	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
973		1306
974	=over 4	1307	=over 4
975		1308
976	=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)	1309	=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)
977		1310
978	=item ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)	1311	=item ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)
979		1312
980	Configure the timer to trigger after C<after> seconds. If C<repeat> is	1313	Configure the timer to trigger after C<after> seconds. If C<repeat>
981	C<0.>, then it will automatically be stopped. If it is positive, then the	1314	is C<0.>, then it will automatically be stopped once the timeout is
982	timer will automatically be configured to trigger again C<repeat> seconds	1315	reached. If it is positive, then the timer will automatically be
983	later, again, and again, until stopped manually.	1316	configured to trigger again C<repeat> seconds later, again, and again,
		1317	until stopped manually.
984		1318
985	The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if you	1319	The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if
986	configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will trigger at	1320	you configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will normally
987	exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot keep up with	1321	trigger at exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot
988	the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to do stuff) the	1322	keep up with the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to
989	timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.	1323	do stuff) the timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.
990		1324
991	=item ev_timer_again (loop)	1325	=item ev_timer_again (loop, ev_timer *)
992		1326
993	This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is	1327	This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
994	repeating. The exact semantics are:	1328	repeating. The exact semantics are:
995		1329
996	If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.	1330	If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.
997		1331
998	If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it (as if it timed out).	1332	If the timer is started but non-repeating, stop it (as if it timed out).
999		1333
1000	If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the	1334	If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the
1001	C<repeat> value), or reset the running timer to the C<repeat> value.	1335	C<repeat> value), or reset the running timer to the C<repeat> value.
1002		1336
1003	This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical	1337	This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical
1004	example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle	1338	example: Imagine you have a TCP connection and you want a so-called idle
1005	timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60	1339	timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60
1006	seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to	1340	seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to
1007	configure an C<ev_timer> with a C<repeat> value of C<60> and then call	1341	configure an C<ev_timer> with a C<repeat> value of C<60> and then call
1008	C<ev_timer_again> each time you successfully read or write some data. If	1342	C<ev_timer_again> each time you successfully read or write some data. If
1009	you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the	1343	you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the
…		…
1023	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);	1357	ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1024		1358
1025	This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time	1359	This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time
1026	you want to modify its timeout value.	1360	you want to modify its timeout value.
1027		1361
		1362	Note, however, that it is often even more efficient to remember the
		1363	time of the last activity and let the timer time-out naturally. In the
		1364	callback, you then check whether the time-out is real, or, if there was
		1365	some activity, you reschedule the watcher to time-out in "last_activity +
		1366	timeout - ev_now ()" seconds.
		1367
1028	=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]	1368	=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]
1029		1369
1030	The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out	1370	The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
1031	or C<ev_timer_again> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),	1371	or C<ev_timer_again> is called, and determines the next timeout (if any),
1032	which is also when any modifications are taken into account.	1372	which is also when any modifications are taken into account.
1033		1373
1034	=back	1374	=back
1035		1375
		1376	=head3 Examples
		1377
1036	Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.	1378	Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.
1037		1379
1038	static void	1380	static void
1039	one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	1381	one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
1040	{	1382	{
1041	.. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here	1383	.. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here
1042	}	1384	}
1043		1385
1044	struct ev_timer mytimer;	1386	struct ev_timer mytimer;
1045	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);	1387	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);
1046	ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);	1388	ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);
1047		1389
1048	Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of	1390	Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
1049	inactivity.	1391	inactivity.
1050		1392
1051	static void	1393	static void
1052	timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)	1394	timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
1053	{	1395	{
1054	.. ten seconds without any activity	1396	.. ten seconds without any activity
1055	}	1397	}
1056		1398
1057	struct ev_timer mytimer;	1399	struct ev_timer mytimer;
1058	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */	1400	ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */
1059	ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */	1401	ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */
1060	ev_loop (loop, 0);	1402	ev_loop (loop, 0);
1061		1403
1062	// and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":	1404	// and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":
1063	// reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds	1405	// reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds
1064	ev_timer_again (&mytimer);	1406	ev_timer_again (&mytimer);
1065		1407
1066		1408
1067	=head2 C<ev_periodic> - to cron or not to cron?	1409	=head2 C<ev_periodic> - to cron or not to cron?
1068		1410
1069	Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile	1411	Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile
1070	(and unfortunately a bit complex).	1412	(and unfortunately a bit complex).
1071		1413
1072	Unlike C<ev_timer>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time)	1414	Unlike C<ev_timer>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time)
1073	but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher	1415	but on wall clock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher
1074	to trigger "at" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a	1416	to trigger after some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a
1075	periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. C<ev_now ()	1417	periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifying e.g. C<ev_now ()
1076	+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will	1418	+ 10.>, that is, an absolute time not a delay) and then reset your system
		1419	clock to January of the previous year, then it will take more than year
1077	take a year to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would trigger	1420	to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would still trigger
1078	roughly 10 seconds later and of course not if you reset your system time	1421	roughly 10 seconds later as it uses a relative timeout).
1079	again).
1080		1422
1081	They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as	1423	C<ev_periodic>s can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers,
1082	triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time.	1424	such as triggering an event on each "midnight, local time", or other
		1425	complicated rules.
1083		1426
1084	As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the	1427	As with timers, the callback is guaranteed to be invoked only when the
1085	time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready	1428	time (C<at>) has passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
1086	during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.	1429	during the same loop iteration, then order of execution is undefined.
		1430
		1431	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1087		1432
1088	=over 4	1433	=over 4
1089		1434
1090	=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)	1435	=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)
1091		1436
1092	=item ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)	1437	=item ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)
1093		1438
1094	Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of	1439	Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of
1095	operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:	1440	operation, and we will explain them from simplest to most complex:
1096		1441
1097	=over 4	1442	=over 4
1098		1443
1099	=item * absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0)	1444	=item * absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)
1100		1445
1101	In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time	1446	In this configuration the watcher triggers an event after the wall clock
1102	C<at> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs,	1447	time C<at> has passed. It will not repeat and will not adjust when a time
1103	that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the	1448	jump occurs, that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will
1104	system time reaches or surpasses this time.	1449	only run when the system clock reaches or surpasses this time.
1105		1450
1106	=item * non-repeating interval timer (interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)	1451	=item * repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)
1107		1452
1108	In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next	1453	In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next
1109	C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N) and then repeat, regardless	1454	C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)
1110	of any time jumps.	1455	and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps.
1111		1456
1112	This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system	1457	This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to the
1113	time:	1458	system clock, for example, here is a C<ev_periodic> that triggers each
		1459	hour, on the hour:
1114		1460
1115	ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);	1461	ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);
1116		1462
1117	This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers,	1463	This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers,
1118	but only that the the callback will be called when the system time shows a	1464	but only that the callback will be called when the system time shows a
1119	full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible	1465	full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible
1120	by 3600.	1466	by 3600.
1121		1467
1122	Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that	1468	Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
1123	C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible	1469	C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
1124	time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.	1470	time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.
1125		1471
		1472	For numerical stability it is preferable that the C<at> value is near
		1473	C<ev_now ()> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
		1474	this value, and in fact is often specified as zero.
		1475
		1476	Note also that there is an upper limit to how often a timer can fire (CPU
		1477	speed for example), so if C<interval> is very small then timing stability
		1478	will of course deteriorate. Libev itself tries to be exact to be about one
		1479	millisecond (if the OS supports it and the machine is fast enough).
		1480
1126	=item * manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback)	1481	=item * manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)
1127		1482
1128	In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being	1483	In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being
1129	ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the	1484	ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
1130	reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the	1485	reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
1131	current time as second argument.	1486	current time as second argument.
1132		1487
1133	NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,	1488	NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,
1134	ever, or make any event loop modifications>. If you need to stop it,	1489	ever, or make ANY event loop modifications whatsoever>.
1135	return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
1136	starting a prepare watcher).
1137		1490
		1491	If you need to stop it, return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop
		1492	it afterwards (e.g. by starting an C<ev_prepare> watcher, which is the
		1493	only event loop modification you are allowed to do).
		1494
1138	Its prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,	1495	The callback prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic
1139	ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:	1496	*w, ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:
1140		1497
1141	static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)	1498	static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1142	{	1499	{
1143	return now + 60.;	1500	return now + 60.;
1144	}	1501	}
…		…
1146	It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value	1503	It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value
1147	(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It	1504	(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It
1148	will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but	1505	will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but
1149	might be called at other times, too.	1506	might be called at other times, too.
1150		1507
1151	NOTE: I<< This callback must always return a time that is later than the	1508	NOTE: I<< This callback must always return a time that is higher than or
1152	passed C<now> value >>. Not even C<now> itself will do, it I<must> be larger.	1509	equal to the passed C<now> value >>.
1153		1510
1154	This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that	1511	This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that
1155	triggers on each midnight, local time. To do this, you would calculate the	1512	triggers on "next midnight, local time". To do this, you would calculate the
1156	next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How	1513	next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How
1157	you do this is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial, which is the main	1514	you do this is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial, which is the main
1158	reason I omitted it as an example).	1515	reason I omitted it as an example).
1159		1516
1160	=back	1517	=back
…		…
1164	Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful	1521	Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
1165	when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return	1522	when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return
1166	a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like	1523	a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
1167	program when the crontabs have changed).	1524	program when the crontabs have changed).
1168		1525
		1526	=item ev_tstamp ev_periodic_at (ev_periodic *)
		1527
		1528	When active, returns the absolute time that the watcher is supposed to
		1529	trigger next.
		1530
		1531	=item ev_tstamp offset [read-write]
		1532
		1533	When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
		1534	absolute point in time (the C<at> value passed to C<ev_periodic_set>).
		1535
		1536	Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
		1537	timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
		1538
1169	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]	1539	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]
1170		1540
1171	The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only	1541	The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1172	take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being	1542	take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being
1173	called.	1543	called.
…		…
1178	switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when	1548	switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
1179	the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.	1549	the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1180		1550
1181	=back	1551	=back
1182		1552
		1553	=head3 Examples
		1554
1183	Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the	1555	Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
1184	system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have	1556	system time is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
1185	potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.	1557	potentially a lot of jitter, but good long-term stability.
1186		1558
1187	static void	1559	static void
1188	clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)	1560	clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
1189	{	1561	{
1190	... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)	1562	... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)
1191	}	1563	}
1192		1564
1193	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;	1565	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1194	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);	1566	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);
1195	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);	1567	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1196		1568
1197	Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:	1569	Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:
1198		1570
1199	#include <math.h>	1571	#include <math.h>
1200		1572
1201	static ev_tstamp	1573	static ev_tstamp
1202	my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)	1574	my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1203	{	1575	{
1204	return fmod (now, 3600.) + 3600.;	1576	return now + (3600. - fmod (now, 3600.));
1205	}	1577	}
1206		1578
1207	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);	1579	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);
1208		1580
1209	Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:	1581	Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:
1210		1582
1211	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;	1583	struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1212	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,	1584	ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,
1213	fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);	1585	fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);
1214	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);	1586	ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1215		1587
1216		1588
1217	=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!	1589	=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!
1218		1590
1219	Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific	1591	Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
1220	signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev	1592	signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev
1221	will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the	1593	will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the
1222	normal event processing, like any other event.	1594	normal event processing, like any other event.
1223		1595
		1596	If you want signals asynchronously, just use C<sigaction> as you would
		1597	do without libev and forget about sharing the signal. You can even use
		1598	C<ev_async> from a signal handler to synchronously wake up an event loop.
		1599
1224	You can configure as many watchers as you like per signal. Only when the	1600	You can configure as many watchers as you like per signal. Only when the
1225	first watcher gets started will libev actually register a signal watcher	1601	first watcher gets started will libev actually register a signal handler
1226	with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long	1602	with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long as
1227	as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal	1603	you don't register any with libev for the same signal). Similarly, when
1228	watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to	1604	the last signal watcher for a signal is stopped, libev will reset the
1229	SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before).	1605	signal handler to SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before).
		1606
		1607	If possible and supported, libev will install its handlers with
		1608	C<SA_RESTART> behaviour enabled, so system calls should not be unduly
		1609	interrupted. If you have a problem with system calls getting interrupted by
		1610	signals you can block all signals in an C<ev_check> watcher and unblock
		1611	them in an C<ev_prepare> watcher.
		1612
		1613	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1230		1614
1231	=over 4	1615	=over 4
1232		1616
1233	=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)	1617	=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)
1234		1618
…		…
1241		1625
1242	The signal the watcher watches out for.	1626	The signal the watcher watches out for.
1243		1627
1244	=back	1628	=back
1245		1629
		1630	=head3 Examples
		1631
		1632	Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT.
		1633
		1634	static void
		1635	sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)
		1636	{
		1637	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
		1638	}
		1639
		1640	struct ev_signal signal_watcher;
		1641	ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);
		1642	ev_signal_start (loop, &signal_watcher);
		1643
1246		1644
1247	=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes	1645	=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes
1248		1646
1249	Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to	1647	Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to
1250	some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).	1648	some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies or
		1649	exits). It is permissible to install a child watcher I<after> the child
		1650	has been forked (which implies it might have already exited), as long
		1651	as the event loop isn't entered (or is continued from a watcher), i.e.,
		1652	forking and then immediately registering a watcher for the child is fine,
		1653	but forking and registering a watcher a few event loop iterations later is
		1654	not.
		1655
		1656	Only the default event loop is capable of handling signals, and therefore
		1657	you can only register child watchers in the default event loop.
		1658
		1659	=head3 Process Interaction
		1660
		1661	Libev grabs C<SIGCHLD> as soon as the default event loop is
		1662	initialised. This is necessary to guarantee proper behaviour even if
		1663	the first child watcher is started after the child exits. The occurrence
		1664	of C<SIGCHLD> is recorded asynchronously, but child reaping is done
		1665	synchronously as part of the event loop processing. Libev always reaps all
		1666	children, even ones not watched.
		1667
		1668	=head3 Overriding the Built-In Processing
		1669
		1670	Libev offers no special support for overriding the built-in child
		1671	processing, but if your application collides with libev's default child
		1672	handler, you can override it easily by installing your own handler for
		1673	C<SIGCHLD> after initialising the default loop, and making sure the
		1674	default loop never gets destroyed. You are encouraged, however, to use an
		1675	event-based approach to child reaping and thus use libev's support for
		1676	that, so other libev users can use C<ev_child> watchers freely.
		1677
		1678	=head3 Stopping the Child Watcher
		1679
		1680	Currently, the child watcher never gets stopped, even when the
		1681	child terminates, so normally one needs to stop the watcher in the
		1682	callback. Future versions of libev might stop the watcher automatically
		1683	when a child exit is detected.
		1684
		1685	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1251		1686
1252	=over 4	1687	=over 4
1253		1688
1254	=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)	1689	=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid, int trace)
1255		1690
1256	=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)	1691	=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid, int trace)
1257		1692
1258	Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or	1693	Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or
1259	I<any> process if C<pid> is specified as C<0>). The callback can look	1694	I<any> process if C<pid> is specified as C<0>). The callback can look
1260	at the C<rstatus> member of the C<ev_child> watcher structure to see	1695	at the C<rstatus> member of the C<ev_child> watcher structure to see
1261	the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h> and see your systems	1696	the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h> and see your systems
1262	C<waitpid> documentation). The C<rpid> member contains the pid of the	1697	C<waitpid> documentation). The C<rpid> member contains the pid of the
1263	process causing the status change.	1698	process causing the status change. C<trace> must be either C<0> (only
		1699	activate the watcher when the process terminates) or C<1> (additionally
		1700	activate the watcher when the process is stopped or continued).
1264		1701
1265	=item int pid [read-only]	1702	=item int pid [read-only]
1266		1703
1267	The process id this watcher watches out for, or C<0>, meaning any process id.	1704	The process id this watcher watches out for, or C<0>, meaning any process id.
1268		1705
…		…
1275	The process exit/trace status caused by C<rpid> (see your systems	1712	The process exit/trace status caused by C<rpid> (see your systems
1276	C<waitpid> and C<sys/wait.h> documentation for details).	1713	C<waitpid> and C<sys/wait.h> documentation for details).
1277		1714
1278	=back	1715	=back
1279		1716
1280	Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.	1717	=head3 Examples
1281		1718
		1719	Example: C<fork()> a new process and install a child handler to wait for
		1720	its completion.
		1721
		1722	ev_child cw;
		1723
1282	static void	1724	static void
1283	sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)	1725	child_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_child *w, int revents)
1284	{	1726	{
1285	ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);	1727	ev_child_stop (EV_A_ w);
		1728	printf ("process %d exited with status %x\n", w->rpid, w->rstatus);
1286	}	1729	}
1287		1730
1288	struct ev_signal signal_watcher;	1731	pid_t pid = fork ();
1289	ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);	1732
1290	ev_signal_start (loop, &sigint_cb);	1733	if (pid < 0)
		1734	// error
		1735	else if (pid == 0)
		1736	{
		1737	// the forked child executes here
		1738	exit (1);
		1739	}
		1740	else
		1741	{
		1742	ev_child_init (&cw, child_cb, pid, 0);
		1743	ev_child_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &cw);
		1744	}
1291		1745
1292		1746
1293	=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?	1747	=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?
1294		1748
1295	This watches a filesystem path for attribute changes. That is, it calls	1749	This watches a file system path for attribute changes. That is, it calls
1296	C<stat> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed	1750	C<stat> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed
1297	compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.	1751	compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.
1298		1752
1299	The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does	1753	The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does
1300	not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does	1754	not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does
…		…
1303	the stat buffer having unspecified contents.	1757	the stat buffer having unspecified contents.
1304		1758
1305	The path I<should> be absolute and I<must not> end in a slash. If it is	1759	The path I<should> be absolute and I<must not> end in a slash. If it is
1306	relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.	1760	relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.
1307		1761
1308	Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply	1762	Since there is no standard kernel interface to do this, the portable
1309	calls C<stat (2)> regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You	1763	implementation simply calls C<stat (2)> regularly on the path to see if
1310	can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify	1764	it changed somehow. You can specify a recommended polling interval for
1311	a polling interval of C<0> (highly recommended!) then a I<suitable,	1765	this case. If you specify a polling interval of C<0> (highly recommended!)
1312	unspecified default> value will be used (which you can expect to be around	1766	then a I<suitable, unspecified default> value will be used (which
1313	five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also	1767	you can expect to be around five seconds, although this might change
1314	impose a minimum interval which is currently around C<0.1>, but thats	1768	dynamically). Libev will also impose a minimum interval which is currently
1315	usually overkill.	1769	around C<0.1>, but thats usually overkill.
1316		1770
1317	This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,	1771	This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,
1318	as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be	1772	as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be
1319	resource-intensive.	1773	resource-intensive.
1320		1774
1321	At the time of this writing, only the Linux inotify interface is	1775	At the time of this writing, the only OS-specific interface implemented
1322	implemented (implementing kqueue support is left as an exercise for the	1776	is the Linux inotify interface (implementing kqueue support is left as
1323	reader). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should not change the	1777	an exercise for the reader. Note, however, that the author sees no way
1324	semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers, which means that libev sometimes needs	1778	of implementing C<ev_stat> semantics with kqueue).
1325	to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify, but changes are	1779
1326	usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there will be no	1780	=head3 ABI Issues (Largefile Support)
1327	polling.	1781
		1782	Libev by default (unless the user overrides this) uses the default
		1783	compilation environment, which means that on systems with large file
		1784	support disabled by default, you get the 32 bit version of the stat
		1785	structure. When using the library from programs that change the ABI to
		1786	use 64 bit file offsets the programs will fail. In that case you have to
		1787	compile libev with the same flags to get binary compatibility. This is
		1788	obviously the case with any flags that change the ABI, but the problem is
		1789	most noticeably disabled with ev_stat and large file support.
		1790
		1791	The solution for this is to lobby your distribution maker to make large
		1792	file interfaces available by default (as e.g. FreeBSD does) and not
		1793	optional. Libev cannot simply switch on large file support because it has
		1794	to exchange stat structures with application programs compiled using the
		1795	default compilation environment.
		1796
		1797	=head3 Inotify and Kqueue
		1798
		1799	When C<inotify (7)> support has been compiled into libev (generally only
		1800	available with Linux) and present at runtime, it will be used to speed up
		1801	change detection where possible. The inotify descriptor will be created lazily
		1802	when the first C<ev_stat> watcher is being started.
		1803
		1804	Inotify presence does not change the semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers
		1805	except that changes might be detected earlier, and in some cases, to avoid
		1806	making regular C<stat> calls. Even in the presence of inotify support
		1807	there are many cases where libev has to resort to regular C<stat> polling,
		1808	but as long as the path exists, libev usually gets away without polling.
		1809
		1810	There is no support for kqueue, as apparently it cannot be used to
		1811	implement this functionality, due to the requirement of having a file
		1812	descriptor open on the object at all times, and detecting renames, unlinks
		1813	etc. is difficult.
		1814
		1815	=head3 The special problem of stat time resolution
		1816
		1817	The C<stat ()> system call only supports full-second resolution portably, and
		1818	even on systems where the resolution is higher, most file systems still
		1819	only support whole seconds.
		1820
		1821	That means that, if the time is the only thing that changes, you can
		1822	easily miss updates: on the first update, C<ev_stat> detects a change and
		1823	calls your callback, which does something. When there is another update
		1824	within the same second, C<ev_stat> will be unable to detect unless the
		1825	stat data does change in other ways (e.g. file size).
		1826
		1827	The solution to this is to delay acting on a change for slightly more
		1828	than a second (or till slightly after the next full second boundary), using
		1829	a roughly one-second-delay C<ev_timer> (e.g. C<ev_timer_set (w, 0., 1.02);
		1830	ev_timer_again (loop, w)>).
		1831
		1832	The C<.02> offset is added to work around small timing inconsistencies
		1833	of some operating systems (where the second counter of the current time
		1834	might be be delayed. One such system is the Linux kernel, where a call to
		1835	C<gettimeofday> might return a timestamp with a full second later than
		1836	a subsequent C<time> call - if the equivalent of C<time ()> is used to
		1837	update file times then there will be a small window where the kernel uses
		1838	the previous second to update file times but libev might already execute
		1839	the timer callback).
		1840
		1841	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1328		1842
1329	=over 4	1843	=over 4
1330		1844
1331	=item ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)	1845	=item ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)
1332		1846
…		…
1336	C<path>. The C<interval> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to	1850	C<path>. The C<interval> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to
1337	be detected and should normally be specified as C<0> to let libev choose	1851	be detected and should normally be specified as C<0> to let libev choose
1338	a suitable value. The memory pointed to by C<path> must point to the same	1852	a suitable value. The memory pointed to by C<path> must point to the same
1339	path for as long as the watcher is active.	1853	path for as long as the watcher is active.
1340		1854
1341	The callback will be receive C<EV_STAT> when a change was detected,	1855	The callback will receive an C<EV_STAT> event when a change was detected,
1342	relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the	1856	relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the
1343	last change was detected).	1857	last change was detected).
1344		1858
1345	=item ev_stat_stat (ev_stat *)	1859	=item ev_stat_stat (loop, ev_stat *)
1346		1860
1347	Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the	1861	Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the
1348	watched path in your callback, you could call this fucntion to avoid	1862	watched path in your callback, you could call this function to avoid
1349	detecting this change (while introducing a race condition). Can also be	1863	detecting this change (while introducing a race condition if you are not
1350	useful simply to find out the new values.	1864	the only one changing the path). Can also be useful simply to find out the
		1865	new values.
1351		1866
1352	=item ev_statdata attr [read-only]	1867	=item ev_statdata attr [read-only]
1353		1868
1354	The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is of	1869	The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is
1355	C<ev_statdata>, this is usually the (or one of the) C<struct stat> types	1870	C<ev_statdata>, this is usually the (or one of the) C<struct stat> types
1356	suitable for your system. If the C<st_nlink> member is C<0>, then there	1871	suitable for your system, but you can only rely on the POSIX-standardised
		1872	members to be present. If the C<st_nlink> member is C<0>, then there was
1357	was some error while C<stat>ing the file.	1873	some error while C<stat>ing the file.
1358		1874
1359	=item ev_statdata prev [read-only]	1875	=item ev_statdata prev [read-only]
1360		1876
1361	The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever	1877	The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever
1362	C<prev> != C<attr>.	1878	C<prev> != C<attr>, or, more precisely, one or more of these members
		1879	differ: C<st_dev>, C<st_ino>, C<st_mode>, C<st_nlink>, C<st_uid>,
		1880	C<st_gid>, C<st_rdev>, C<st_size>, C<st_atime>, C<st_mtime>, C<st_ctime>.
1363		1881
1364	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-only]	1882	=item ev_tstamp interval [read-only]
1365		1883
1366	The specified interval.	1884	The specified interval.
1367		1885
1368	=item const char *path [read-only]	1886	=item const char *path [read-only]
1369		1887
1370	The filesystem path that is being watched.	1888	The file system path that is being watched.
1371		1889
1372	=back	1890	=back
1373		1891
		1892	=head3 Examples
		1893
1374	Example: Watch C</etc/passwd> for attribute changes.	1894	Example: Watch C</etc/passwd> for attribute changes.
1375		1895
1376	static void	1896	static void
1377	passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)	1897	passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)
1378	{	1898	{
1379	/* /etc/passwd changed in some way */	1899	/* /etc/passwd changed in some way */
1380	if (w->attr.st_nlink)	1900	if (w->attr.st_nlink)
1381	{	1901	{
1382	printf ("passwd current size %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_size);	1902	printf ("passwd current size %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_size);
1383	printf ("passwd current atime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);	1903	printf ("passwd current atime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1384	printf ("passwd current mtime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);	1904	printf ("passwd current mtime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1385	}	1905	}
1386	else	1906	else
1387	/* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */	1907	/* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */
1388	puts ("wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. "	1908	puts ("wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. "
1389	"if this is windows, they already arrived\n");	1909	"if this is windows, they already arrived\n");
1390	}	1910	}
1391		1911
1392	...	1912	...
1393	ev_stat passwd;	1913	ev_stat passwd;
1394		1914
1395	ev_stat_init (&passwd, passwd_cb, "/etc/passwd");	1915	ev_stat_init (&passwd, passwd_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);
1396	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);	1916	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
		1917
		1918	Example: Like above, but additionally use a one-second delay so we do not
		1919	miss updates (however, frequent updates will delay processing, too, so
		1920	one might do the work both on C<ev_stat> callback invocation I<and> on
		1921	C<ev_timer> callback invocation).
		1922
		1923	static ev_stat passwd;
		1924	static ev_timer timer;
		1925
		1926	static void
		1927	timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
		1928	{
		1929	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ w);
		1930
		1931	/* now it's one second after the most recent passwd change */
		1932	}
		1933
		1934	static void
		1935	stat_cb (EV_P_ ev_stat *w, int revents)
		1936	{
		1937	/* reset the one-second timer */
		1938	ev_timer_again (EV_A_ &timer);
		1939	}
		1940
		1941	...
		1942	ev_stat_init (&passwd, stat_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);
		1943	ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
		1944	ev_timer_init (&timer, timer_cb, 0., 1.02);
1397		1945
1398		1946
1399	=head2 C<ev_idle> - when you've got nothing better to do...	1947	=head2 C<ev_idle> - when you've got nothing better to do...
1400		1948
1401	Idle watchers trigger events when no other events of the same or higher	1949	Idle watchers trigger events when no other events of the same or higher
1402	priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not	1950	priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not count
1403	count).	1951	as receiving "events").
1404		1952
1405	That is, as long as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts	1953	That is, as long as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts
1406	(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be	1954	(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be
1407	triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers	1955	triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers
1408	are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop	1956	are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop
…		…
1415	Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful	1963	Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful
1416	effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do	1964	effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do
1417	"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the	1965	"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the
1418	event loop has handled all outstanding events.	1966	event loop has handled all outstanding events.
1419		1967
		1968	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		1969
1420	=over 4	1970	=over 4
1421		1971
1422	=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)	1972	=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)
1423		1973
1424	Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any	1974	Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any
1425	kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,	1975	kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1426	believe me.	1976	believe me.
1427		1977
1428	=back	1978	=back
1429		1979
		1980	=head3 Examples
		1981
1430	Example: Dynamically allocate an C<ev_idle> watcher, start it, and in the	1982	Example: Dynamically allocate an C<ev_idle> watcher, start it, and in the
1431	callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.	1983	callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.
1432		1984
1433	static void	1985	static void
1434	idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)	1986	idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)
1435	{	1987	{
1436	free (w);	1988	free (w);
1437	// now do something you wanted to do when the program has	1989	// now do something you wanted to do when the program has
1438	// no longer asnything immediate to do.	1990	// no longer anything immediate to do.
1439	}	1991	}
1440		1992
1441	struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle));	1993	struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle));
1442	ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);	1994	ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);
1443	ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb);	1995	ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb);
1444		1996
1445		1997
1446	=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!	1998	=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!
1447		1999
1448	Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:	2000	Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in pairs:
1449	prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers	2001	prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers
1450	afterwards.	2002	afterwards.
1451		2003
1452	You I<must not> call C<ev_loop> or similar functions that enter	2004	You I<must not> call C<ev_loop> or similar functions that enter
1453	the current event loop from either C<ev_prepare> or C<ev_check>	2005	the current event loop from either C<ev_prepare> or C<ev_check>
…		…
1456	those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be C<ev_prepare>, blocking,	2008	those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be C<ev_prepare>, blocking,
1457	C<ev_check> so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be	2009	C<ev_check> so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be
1458	called in pairs bracketing the blocking call.	2010	called in pairs bracketing the blocking call.
1459		2011
1460	Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and	2012	Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and
1461	their use is somewhat advanced. This could be used, for example, to track	2013	their use is somewhat advanced. They could be used, for example, to track
1462	variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a	2014	variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a
1463	coroutine library and lots more. They are also occasionally useful if	2015	coroutine library and lots more. They are also occasionally useful if
1464	you cache some data and want to flush it before blocking (for example,	2016	you cache some data and want to flush it before blocking (for example,
1465	in X programs you might want to do an C<XFlush ()> in an C<ev_prepare>	2017	in X programs you might want to do an C<XFlush ()> in an C<ev_prepare>
1466	watcher).	2018	watcher).
1467		2019
1468	This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need	2020	This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors
1469	to be watched by the other library, registering C<ev_io> watchers for	2021	need to be watched by the other library, registering C<ev_io> watchers
1470	them and starting an C<ev_timer> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries	2022	for them and starting an C<ev_timer> watcher for any timeouts (many
1471	provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for	2023	libraries provide exactly this functionality). Then, in the check watcher,
1472	any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers	2024	you check for any events that occurred (by checking the pending status
1473	and stopping them) and call back into the library. The I/O and timer	2025	of all watchers and stopping them) and call back into the library. The
1474	callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid nevertheless,	2026	I/O and timer callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid
1475	because you never know, you know?).	2027	nevertheless, because you never know, you know?).
1476		2028
1477	As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate	2029	As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate
1478	coroutines into libev programs, by yielding to other active coroutines	2030	coroutines into libev programs, by yielding to other active coroutines
1479	during each prepare and only letting the process block if no coroutines	2031	during each prepare and only letting the process block if no coroutines
1480	are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines	2032	are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines
1481	with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine	2033	with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine
1482	of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event	2034	of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
1483	loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping	2035	loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
1484	low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).	2036	low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).
1485		2037
		2038	It is recommended to give C<ev_check> watchers highest (C<EV_MAXPRI>)
		2039	priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers
		2040	after the poll (this doesn't matter for C<ev_prepare> watchers).
		2041
		2042	Also, C<ev_check> watchers (and C<ev_prepare> watchers, too) should not
		2043	activate ("feed") events into libev. While libev fully supports this, they
		2044	might get executed before other C<ev_check> watchers did their job. As
		2045	C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other (non-libev) event
		2046	loops those other event loops might be in an unusable state until their
		2047	C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to coexist peacefully with
		2048	others).
		2049
		2050	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		2051
1486	=over 4	2052	=over 4
1487		2053
1488	=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)	2054	=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)
1489		2055
1490	=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)	2056	=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)
1491		2057
1492	Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no	2058	Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no
1493	parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set>	2059	parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set>
1494	macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.	2060	macros, but using them is utterly, utterly, utterly and completely
		2061	pointless.
1495		2062
1496	=back	2063	=back
1497		2064
1498	Example: To include a library such as adns, you would add IO watchers	2065	=head3 Examples
1499	and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler, as required by libadns, and	2066
		2067	There are a number of principal ways to embed other event loops or modules
		2068	into libev. Here are some ideas on how to include libadns into libev
		2069	(there is a Perl module named C<EV::ADNS> that does this, which you could
		2070	use as a working example. Another Perl module named C<EV::Glib> embeds a
		2071	Glib main context into libev, and finally, C<Glib::EV> embeds EV into the
		2072	Glib event loop).
		2073
		2074	Method 1: Add IO watchers and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler,
1500	in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows is	2075	and in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows
1501	pseudo-code only of course:	2076	is pseudo-code only of course. This requires you to either use a low
		2077	priority for the check watcher or use C<ev_clear_pending> explicitly, as
		2078	the callbacks for the IO/timeout watchers might not have been called yet.
1502		2079
1503	static ev_io iow [nfd];	2080	static ev_io iow [nfd];
1504	static ev_timer tw;	2081	static ev_timer tw;
1505		2082
1506	static void	2083	static void
1507	io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)	2084	io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
1508	{	2085	{
1509	// set the relevant poll flags
1510	// could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
1511	struct pollfd *fd = (struct pollfd *)w->data;
1512	if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
1513	if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
1514	}	2086	}
1515		2087
1516	// create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking	2088	// create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
1517	static void	2089	static void
1518	adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)	2090	adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
1519	{	2091	{
1520	int timeout = 3600000;	2092	int timeout = 3600000;
1521	struct pollfd fds [nfd];	2093	struct pollfd fds [nfd];
1522	// actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.	2094	// actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
1523	adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));	2095	adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
1524		2096
1525	/* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */	2097	/* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
1526	ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);	2098	ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);
1527	ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);	2099	ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);
1528		2100
1529	// create on ev_io per pollfd	2101	// create one ev_io per pollfd
1530	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)	2102	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1531	{	2103	{
1532	ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,	2104	ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,
1533	((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)	2105	((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)
1534	| (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));	2106	| (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));
1535		2107
1536	fds [i].revents = 0;	2108	fds [i].revents = 0;
1537	iow [i].data = fds + i;
1538	ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);	2109	ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);
1539	}	2110	}
1540	}	2111	}
1541		2112
1542	// stop all watchers after blocking	2113	// stop all watchers after blocking
1543	static void	2114	static void
1544	adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)	2115	adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)
1545	{	2116	{
1546	ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);	2117	ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);
1547		2118
1548	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)	2119	for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
		2120	{
		2121	// set the relevant poll flags
		2122	// could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
		2123	struct pollfd *fd = fds + i;
		2124	int revents = ev_clear_pending (iow + i);
		2125	if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
		2126	if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
		2127
		2128	// now stop the watcher
1549	ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);	2129	ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
		2130	}
1550		2131
1551	adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));	2132	adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));
1552	}	2133	}
		2134
		2135	Method 2: This would be just like method 1, but you run C<adns_afterpoll>
		2136	in the prepare watcher and would dispose of the check watcher.
		2137
		2138	Method 3: If the module to be embedded supports explicit event
		2139	notification (libadns does), you can also make use of the actual watcher
		2140	callbacks, and only destroy/create the watchers in the prepare watcher.
		2141
		2142	static void
		2143	timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
		2144	{
		2145	adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
		2146	update_now (EV_A);
		2147
		2148	adns_processtimeouts (ads, &tv_now);
		2149	}
		2150
		2151	static void
		2152	io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
		2153	{
		2154	adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
		2155	update_now (EV_A);
		2156
		2157	if (revents & EV_READ ) adns_processreadable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
		2158	if (revents & EV_WRITE) adns_processwriteable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
		2159	}
		2160
		2161	// do not ever call adns_afterpoll
		2162
		2163	Method 4: Do not use a prepare or check watcher because the module you
		2164	want to embed is not flexible enough to support it. Instead, you can
		2165	override their poll function. The drawback with this solution is that the
		2166	main loop is now no longer controllable by EV. The C<Glib::EV> module uses
		2167	this approach, effectively embedding EV as a client into the horrible
		2168	libglib event loop.
		2169
		2170	static gint
		2171	event_poll_func (GPollFD *fds, guint nfds, gint timeout)
		2172	{
		2173	int got_events = 0;
		2174
		2175	for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
		2176	// create/start io watcher that sets the relevant bits in fds[n] and increment got_events
		2177
		2178	if (timeout >= 0)
		2179	// create/start timer
		2180
		2181	// poll
		2182	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
		2183
		2184	// stop timer again
		2185	if (timeout >= 0)
		2186	ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &to);
		2187
		2188	// stop io watchers again - their callbacks should have set
		2189	for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
		2190	ev_io_stop (EV_A_ iow [n]);
		2191
		2192	return got_events;
		2193	}
1553		2194
1554		2195
1555	=head2 C<ev_embed> - when one backend isn't enough...	2196	=head2 C<ev_embed> - when one backend isn't enough...
1556		2197
1557	This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop	2198	This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop
…		…
1563	prioritise I/O.	2204	prioritise I/O.
1564		2205
1565	As an example for a bug workaround, the kqueue backend might only support	2206	As an example for a bug workaround, the kqueue backend might only support
1566	sockets on some platform, so it is unusable as generic backend, but you	2207	sockets on some platform, so it is unusable as generic backend, but you
1567	still want to make use of it because you have many sockets and it scales	2208	still want to make use of it because you have many sockets and it scales
1568	so nicely. In this case, you would create a kqueue-based loop and embed it	2209	so nicely. In this case, you would create a kqueue-based loop and embed
1569	into your default loop (which might use e.g. poll). Overall operation will	2210	it into your default loop (which might use e.g. poll). Overall operation
1570	be a bit slower because first libev has to poll and then call kevent, but	2211	will be a bit slower because first libev has to call C<poll> and then
1571	at least you can use both at what they are best.	2212	C<kevent>, but at least you can use both mechanisms for what they are
		2213	best: C<kqueue> for scalable sockets and C<poll> if you want it to work :)
1572		2214
1573	As for prioritising I/O: rarely you have the case where some fds have	2215	As for prioritising I/O: under rare circumstances you have the case where
1574	to be watched and handled very quickly (with low latency), and even	2216	some fds have to be watched and handled very quickly (with low latency),
1575	priorities and idle watchers might have too much overhead. In this case	2217	and even priorities and idle watchers might have too much overhead. In
1576	you would put all the high priority stuff in one loop and all the rest in	2218	this case you would put all the high priority stuff in one loop and all
1577	a second one, and embed the second one in the first.	2219	the rest in a second one, and embed the second one in the first.
1578		2220
1579	As long as the watcher is active, the callback will be invoked every time	2221	As long as the watcher is active, the callback will be invoked every time
1580	there might be events pending in the embedded loop. The callback must then	2222	there might be events pending in the embedded loop. The callback must then
1581	call C<ev_embed_sweep (mainloop, watcher)> to make a single sweep and invoke	2223	call C<ev_embed_sweep (mainloop, watcher)> to make a single sweep and invoke
1582	their callbacks (you could also start an idle watcher to give the embedded	2224	their callbacks (you could also start an idle watcher to give the embedded
…		…
1590	interested in that.	2232	interested in that.
1591		2233
1592	Also, there have not currently been made special provisions for forking:	2234	Also, there have not currently been made special provisions for forking:
1593	when you fork, you not only have to call C<ev_loop_fork> on both loops,	2235	when you fork, you not only have to call C<ev_loop_fork> on both loops,
1594	but you will also have to stop and restart any C<ev_embed> watchers	2236	but you will also have to stop and restart any C<ev_embed> watchers
1595	yourself.	2237	yourself - but you can use a fork watcher to handle this automatically,
		2238	and future versions of libev might do just that.
1596		2239
1597	Unfortunately, not all backends are embeddable, only the ones returned by	2240	Unfortunately, not all backends are embeddable: only the ones returned by
1598	C<ev_embeddable_backends> are, which, unfortunately, does not include any	2241	C<ev_embeddable_backends> are, which, unfortunately, does not include any
1599	portable one.	2242	portable one.
1600		2243
1601	So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared	2244	So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared
1602	that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around	2245	that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around
1603	this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to	2246	this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to
1604	create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything:	2247	create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything.
1605		2248
1606	struct ev_loop *loop_hi = ev_default_init (0);	2249	=head3 C<ev_embed> and fork
1607	struct ev_loop *loop_lo = 0;
1608	struct ev_embed embed;
1609
1610	// see if there is a chance of getting one that works
1611	// (remember that a flags value of 0 means autodetection)
1612	loop_lo = ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ()
1613	? ev_loop_new (ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ())
1614	: 0;
1615		2250
1616	// if we got one, then embed it, otherwise default to loop_hi	2251	While the C<ev_embed> watcher is running, forks in the embedding loop will
1617	if (loop_lo)	2252	automatically be applied to the embedded loop as well, so no special
1618	{	2253	fork handling is required in that case. When the watcher is not running,
1619	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_lo);	2254	however, it is still the task of the libev user to call C<ev_loop_fork ()>
1620	ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);	2255	as applicable.
1621	}	2256
1622	else	2257	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1623	loop_lo = loop_hi;
1624		2258
1625	=over 4	2259	=over 4
1626		2260
1627	=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)	2261	=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
1628		2262
…		…
1630		2264
1631	Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be	2265	Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be
1632	embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be	2266	embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be
1633	invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback	2267	invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback
1634	to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,	2268	to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,
1635	if you do not want thta, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).	2269	if you do not want that, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).
1636		2270
1637	=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)	2271	=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)
1638		2272
1639	Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works	2273	Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works
1640	similarly to C<ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)>, but in the most	2274	similarly to C<ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)>, but in the most
1641	apropriate way for embedded loops.	2275	appropriate way for embedded loops.
1642		2276
1643	=item struct ev_loop *loop [read-only]	2277	=item struct ev_loop *other [read-only]
1644		2278
1645	The embedded event loop.	2279	The embedded event loop.
1646		2280
1647	=back	2281	=back
		2282
		2283	=head3 Examples
		2284
		2285	Example: Try to get an embeddable event loop and embed it into the default
		2286	event loop. If that is not possible, use the default loop. The default
		2287	loop is stored in C<loop_hi>, while the embeddable loop is stored in
		2288	C<loop_lo> (which is C<loop_hi> in the case no embeddable loop can be
		2289	used).
		2290
		2291	struct ev_loop *loop_hi = ev_default_init (0);
		2292	struct ev_loop *loop_lo = 0;
		2293	struct ev_embed embed;
		2294
		2295	// see if there is a chance of getting one that works
		2296	// (remember that a flags value of 0 means autodetection)
		2297	loop_lo = ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ()
		2298	? ev_loop_new (ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ())
		2299	: 0;
		2300
		2301	// if we got one, then embed it, otherwise default to loop_hi
		2302	if (loop_lo)
		2303	{
		2304	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_lo);
		2305	ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);
		2306	}
		2307	else
		2308	loop_lo = loop_hi;
		2309
		2310	Example: Check if kqueue is available but not recommended and create
		2311	a kqueue backend for use with sockets (which usually work with any
		2312	kqueue implementation). Store the kqueue/socket-only event loop in
		2313	C<loop_socket>. (One might optionally use C<EVFLAG_NOENV>, too).
		2314
		2315	struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
		2316	struct ev_loop *loop_socket = 0;
		2317	struct ev_embed embed;
		2318
		2319	if (ev_supported_backends () & ~ev_recommended_backends () & EVBACKEND_KQUEUE)
		2320	if ((loop_socket = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_KQUEUE))
		2321	{
		2322	ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_socket);
		2323	ev_embed_start (loop, &embed);
		2324	}
		2325
		2326	if (!loop_socket)
		2327	loop_socket = loop;
		2328
		2329	// now use loop_socket for all sockets, and loop for everything else
1648		2330
1649		2331
1650	=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork	2332	=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork
1651		2333
1652	Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because	2334	Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because
…		…
1655	event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,	2337	event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,
1656	and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling	2338	and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling
1657	C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork	2339	C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork
1658	handlers will be invoked, too, of course.	2340	handlers will be invoked, too, of course.
1659		2341
		2342	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		2343
1660	=over 4	2344	=over 4
1661		2345
1662	=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)	2346	=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)
1663		2347
1664	Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any	2348	Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
…		…
1666	believe me.	2350	believe me.
1667		2351
1668	=back	2352	=back
1669		2353
1670		2354
		2355	=head2 C<ev_async> - how to wake up another event loop
		2356
		2357	In general, you cannot use an C<ev_loop> from multiple threads or other
		2358	asynchronous sources such as signal handlers (as opposed to multiple event
		2359	loops - those are of course safe to use in different threads).
		2360
		2361	Sometimes, however, you need to wake up another event loop you do not
		2362	control, for example because it belongs to another thread. This is what
		2363	C<ev_async> watchers do: as long as the C<ev_async> watcher is active, you
		2364	can signal it by calling C<ev_async_send>, which is thread- and signal
		2365	safe.
		2366
		2367	This functionality is very similar to C<ev_signal> watchers, as signals,
		2368	too, are asynchronous in nature, and signals, too, will be compressed
		2369	(i.e. the number of callback invocations may be less than the number of
		2370	C<ev_async_sent> calls).
		2371
		2372	Unlike C<ev_signal> watchers, C<ev_async> works with any event loop, not
		2373	just the default loop.
		2374
		2375	=head3 Queueing
		2376
		2377	C<ev_async> does not support queueing of data in any way. The reason
		2378	is that the author does not know of a simple (or any) algorithm for a
		2379	multiple-writer-single-reader queue that works in all cases and doesn't
		2380	need elaborate support such as pthreads.
		2381
		2382	That means that if you want to queue data, you have to provide your own
		2383	queue. But at least I can tell you how to implement locking around your
		2384	queue:
		2385
		2386	=over 4
		2387
		2388	=item queueing from a signal handler context
		2389
		2390	To implement race-free queueing, you simply add to the queue in the signal
		2391	handler but you block the signal handler in the watcher callback. Here is
		2392	an example that does that for some fictitious SIGUSR1 handler:
		2393
		2394	static ev_async mysig;
		2395
		2396	static void
		2397	sigusr1_handler (void)
		2398	{
		2399	sometype data;
		2400
		2401	// no locking etc.
		2402	queue_put (data);
		2403	ev_async_send (EV_DEFAULT_ &mysig);
		2404	}
		2405
		2406	static void
		2407	mysig_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
		2408	{
		2409	sometype data;
		2410	sigset_t block, prev;
		2411
		2412	sigemptyset (&block);
		2413	sigaddset (&block, SIGUSR1);
		2414	sigprocmask (SIG_BLOCK, &block, &prev);
		2415
		2416	while (queue_get (&data))
		2417	process (data);
		2418
		2419	if (sigismember (&prev, SIGUSR1)
		2420	sigprocmask (SIG_UNBLOCK, &block, 0);
		2421	}
		2422
		2423	(Note: pthreads in theory requires you to use C<pthread_setmask>
		2424	instead of C<sigprocmask> when you use threads, but libev doesn't do it
		2425	either...).
		2426
		2427	=item queueing from a thread context
		2428
		2429	The strategy for threads is different, as you cannot (easily) block
		2430	threads but you can easily preempt them, so to queue safely you need to
		2431	employ a traditional mutex lock, such as in this pthread example:
		2432
		2433	static ev_async mysig;
		2434	static pthread_mutex_t mymutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
		2435
		2436	static void
		2437	otherthread (void)
		2438	{
		2439	// only need to lock the actual queueing operation
		2440	pthread_mutex_lock (&mymutex);
		2441	queue_put (data);
		2442	pthread_mutex_unlock (&mymutex);
		2443
		2444	ev_async_send (EV_DEFAULT_ &mysig);
		2445	}
		2446
		2447	static void
		2448	mysig_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
		2449	{
		2450	pthread_mutex_lock (&mymutex);
		2451
		2452	while (queue_get (&data))
		2453	process (data);
		2454
		2455	pthread_mutex_unlock (&mymutex);
		2456	}
		2457
		2458	=back
		2459
		2460
		2461	=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
		2462
		2463	=over 4
		2464
		2465	=item ev_async_init (ev_async *, callback)
		2466
		2467	Initialises and configures the async watcher - it has no parameters of any
		2468	kind. There is a C<ev_asynd_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
		2469	trust me.
		2470
		2471	=item ev_async_send (loop, ev_async *)
		2472
		2473	Sends/signals/activates the given C<ev_async> watcher, that is, feeds
		2474	an C<EV_ASYNC> event on the watcher into the event loop. Unlike
		2475	C<ev_feed_event>, this call is safe to do from other threads, signal or
		2476	similar contexts (see the discussion of C<EV_ATOMIC_T> in the embedding
		2477	section below on what exactly this means).
		2478
		2479	This call incurs the overhead of a system call only once per loop iteration,
		2480	so while the overhead might be noticeable, it doesn't apply to repeated
		2481	calls to C<ev_async_send>.
		2482
		2483	=item bool = ev_async_pending (ev_async *)
		2484
		2485	Returns a non-zero value when C<ev_async_send> has been called on the
		2486	watcher but the event has not yet been processed (or even noted) by the
		2487	event loop.
		2488
		2489	C<ev_async_send> sets a flag in the watcher and wakes up the loop. When
		2490	the loop iterates next and checks for the watcher to have become active,
		2491	it will reset the flag again. C<ev_async_pending> can be used to very
		2492	quickly check whether invoking the loop might be a good idea.
		2493
		2494	Not that this does I<not> check whether the watcher itself is pending, only
		2495	whether it has been requested to make this watcher pending.
		2496
		2497	=back
		2498
		2499
1671	=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS	2500	=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS
1672		2501
1673	There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.	2502	There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.
1674		2503
1675	=over 4	2504	=over 4
1676		2505
1677	=item ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)	2506	=item ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)
1678		2507
1679	This function combines a simple timer and an I/O watcher, calls your	2508	This function combines a simple timer and an I/O watcher, calls your
1680	callback on whichever event happens first and automatically stop both	2509	callback on whichever event happens first and automatically stops both
1681	watchers. This is useful if you want to wait for a single event on an fd	2510	watchers. This is useful if you want to wait for a single event on an fd
1682	or timeout without having to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or	2511	or timeout without having to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or
1683	more watchers yourself.	2512	more watchers yourself.
1684		2513
1685	If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events	2514	If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and the
1686	is being ignored. Otherwise, an C<ev_io> watcher for the given C<fd> and	2515	C<events> argument is being ignored. Otherwise, an C<ev_io> watcher for
1687	C<events> set will be craeted and started.	2516	the given C<fd> and C<events> set will be created and started.
1688		2517
1689	If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be	2518	If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be
1690	started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and	2519	started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and
1691	repeat = 0) will be started. While C<0> is a valid timeout, it is of	2520	repeat = 0) will be started. C<0> is a valid timeout.
1692	dubious value.
1693		2521
1694	The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and gets	2522	The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and gets
1695	passed an C<revents> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of	2523	passed an C<revents> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of
1696	C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMEOUT>) and the C<arg>	2524	C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMEOUT>) and the C<arg>
1697	value passed to C<ev_once>:	2525	value passed to C<ev_once>. Note that it is possible to receive I<both>
		2526	a timeout and an io event at the same time - you probably should give io
		2527	events precedence.
1698		2528
		2529	Example: wait up to ten seconds for data to appear on STDIN_FILENO.
		2530
1699	static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)	2531	static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)
1700	{	2532	{
1701	if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT)
1702	/* doh, nothing entered */;
1703	else if (revents & EV_READ)	2533	if (revents & EV_READ)
1704	/* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;	2534	/* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;
		2535	else if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT)
		2536	/* doh, nothing entered */;
1705	}	2537	}
1706		2538
1707	ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);	2539	ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);
1708		2540
1709	=item ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)	2541	=item ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)
1710		2542
1711	Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event	2543	Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
1712	had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an	2544	had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
…		…
1717	Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected	2549	Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
1718	the given events it.	2550	the given events it.
1719		2551
1720	=item ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)	2552	=item ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)
1721		2553
1722	Feed an event as if the given signal occured (C<loop> must be the default	2554	Feed an event as if the given signal occurred (C<loop> must be the default
1723	loop!).	2555	loop!).
1724		2556
1725	=back	2557	=back
1726		2558
1727		2559
…		…
1743		2575
1744	=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities	2576	=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities
1745	will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there	2577	will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there
1746	is an ev_pri field.	2578	is an ev_pri field.
1747		2579
		2580	=item * In libevent, the last base created gets the signals, in libev, the
		2581	first base created (== the default loop) gets the signals.
		2582
1748	=item * Other members are not supported.	2583	=item * Other members are not supported.
1749		2584
1750	=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need	2585	=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
1751	to use the libev header file and library.	2586	to use the libev header file and library.
1752		2587
1753	=back	2588	=back
1754		2589
1755	=head1 C++ SUPPORT	2590	=head1 C++ SUPPORT
1756		2591
1757	Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow	2592	Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow
1758	you to use some convinience methods to start/stop watchers and also change	2593	you to use some convenience methods to start/stop watchers and also change
1759	the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.	2594	the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.
1760		2595
1761	To use it,	2596	To use it,
1762		2597
1763	#include <ev++.h>	2598	#include <ev++.h>
1764		2599
1765	This automatically includes F<ev.h> and puts all of its definitions (many	2600	This automatically includes F<ev.h> and puts all of its definitions (many
1766	of them macros) into the global namespace. All C++ specific things are	2601	of them macros) into the global namespace. All C++ specific things are
1767	put into the C<ev> namespace. It should support all the same embedding	2602	put into the C<ev> namespace. It should support all the same embedding
1768	options as F<ev.h>, most notably C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>.	2603	options as F<ev.h>, most notably C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>.
…		…
1835	your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the	2670	your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the
1836	thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.	2671	thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.
1837		2672
1838	Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation	2673	Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation
1839		2674
1840	struct myclass	2675	struct myclass
1841	{	2676	{
1842	void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }	2677	void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
1843	}	2678	}
1844		2679
1845	myclass obj;	2680	myclass obj;
1846	ev::io iow;	2681	ev::io iow;
1847	iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);	2682	iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);
1848		2683
1849	=item w->set (void (*function)(watcher &w, int), void *data = 0)	2684	=item w->set<function> (void *data = 0)
1850		2685
1851	Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as	2686	Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as
1852	callback. The optional C<data> argument will be stored in the watcher's	2687	callback. The optional C<data> argument will be stored in the watcher's
1853	C<data> member and is free for you to use.	2688	C<data> member and is free for you to use.
1854		2689
		2690	The prototype of the C<function> must be C<void (*)(ev::TYPE &w, int)>.
		2691
1855	See the method-C<set> above for more details.	2692	See the method-C<set> above for more details.
		2693
		2694	Example: Use a plain function as callback.
		2695
		2696	static void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
		2697	iow.set <io_cb> ();
1856		2698
1857	=item w->set (struct ev_loop *)	2699	=item w->set (struct ev_loop *)
1858		2700
1859	Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only	2701	Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only
1860	do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).	2702	do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).
1861		2703
1862	=item w->set ([args])	2704	=item w->set ([arguments])
1863		2705
1864	Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set>, with the same args. Must be	2706	Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set>, with the same arguments. Must be
1865	called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets	2707	called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets
1866	automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this	2708	automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this
1867	method.	2709	method.
1868		2710
1869	=item w->start ()	2711	=item w->start ()
…		…
1873		2715
1874	=item w->stop ()	2716	=item w->stop ()
1875		2717
1876	Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.	2718	Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.
1877		2719
1878	=item w->again () C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only	2720	=item w->again () (C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only)
1879		2721
1880	For C<ev::timer> and C<ev::periodic>, this invokes the corresponding	2722	For C<ev::timer> and C<ev::periodic>, this invokes the corresponding
1881	C<ev_TYPE_again> function.	2723	C<ev_TYPE_again> function.
1882		2724
1883	=item w->sweep () C<ev::embed> only	2725	=item w->sweep () (C<ev::embed> only)
1884		2726
1885	Invokes C<ev_embed_sweep>.	2727	Invokes C<ev_embed_sweep>.
1886		2728
1887	=item w->update () C<ev::stat> only	2729	=item w->update () (C<ev::stat> only)
1888		2730
1889	Invokes C<ev_stat_stat>.	2731	Invokes C<ev_stat_stat>.
1890		2732
1891	=back	2733	=back
1892		2734
1893	=back	2735	=back
1894		2736
1895	Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in	2737	Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in
1896	the constructor.	2738	the constructor.
1897		2739
1898	class myclass	2740	class myclass
1899	{	2741	{
1900	ev_io io; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);	2742	ev::io io ; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);
1901	ev_idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);	2743	ev::idle idle; void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);
1902		2744
1903	myclass ();	2745	myclass (int fd)
1904	}	2746	{
1905
1906	myclass::myclass (int fd)
1907	{
1908	io .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb > (this);	2747	io .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb > (this);
1909	idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);	2748	idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);
1910		2749
1911	io.start (fd, ev::READ);	2750	io.start (fd, ev::READ);
		2751	}
1912	}	2752	};
		2753
		2754
		2755	=head1 OTHER LANGUAGE BINDINGS
		2756
		2757	Libev does not offer other language bindings itself, but bindings for a
		2758	number of languages exist in the form of third-party packages. If you know
		2759	any interesting language binding in addition to the ones listed here, drop
		2760	me a note.
		2761
		2762	=over 4
		2763
		2764	=item Perl
		2765
		2766	The EV module implements the full libev API and is actually used to test
		2767	libev. EV is developed together with libev. Apart from the EV core module,
		2768	there are additional modules that implement libev-compatible interfaces
		2769	to C<libadns> (C<EV::ADNS>, but C<AnyEvent::DNS> is preferred nowadays),
		2770	C<Net::SNMP> (C<Net::SNMP::EV>) and the C<libglib> event core (C<Glib::EV>
		2771	and C<EV::Glib>).
		2772
		2773	It can be found and installed via CPAN, its homepage is at
		2774	L<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV>.
		2775
		2776	=item Python
		2777
		2778	Python bindings can be found at L<http://code.google.com/p/pyev/>. It
		2779	seems to be quite complete and well-documented. Note, however, that the
		2780	patch they require for libev is outright dangerous as it breaks the ABI
		2781	for everybody else, and therefore, should never be applied in an installed
		2782	libev (if python requires an incompatible ABI then it needs to embed
		2783	libev).
		2784
		2785	=item Ruby
		2786
		2787	Tony Arcieri has written a ruby extension that offers access to a subset
		2788	of the libev API and adds file handle abstractions, asynchronous DNS and
		2789	more on top of it. It can be found via gem servers. Its homepage is at
		2790	L<http://rev.rubyforge.org/>.
		2791
		2792	=item D
		2793
		2794	Leandro Lucarella has written a D language binding (F<ev.d>) for libev, to
		2795	be found at L<http://proj.llucax.com.ar/wiki/evd>.
		2796
		2797	=back
1913		2798
1914		2799
1915	=head1 MACRO MAGIC	2800	=head1 MACRO MAGIC
1916		2801
1917	Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundemantal is	2802	Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundamental
1918	C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines whether (most) functions and	2803	of which is C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines whether (most)
1919	callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument.	2804	functions and callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument.
1920		2805
1921	To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the	2806	To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
1922	following macros are defined:	2807	following macros are defined:
1923		2808
1924	=over 4	2809	=over 4
…		…
1927		2812
1928	This provides the loop I<argument> for functions, if one is required ("ev	2813	This provides the loop I<argument> for functions, if one is required ("ev
1929	loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,	2814	loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,
1930	C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:	2815	C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:
1931		2816
1932	ev_unref (EV_A);	2817	ev_unref (EV_A);
1933	ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);	2818	ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);
1934	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);	2819	ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
1935		2820
1936	It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,	2821	It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,
1937	which is often provided by the following macro.	2822	which is often provided by the following macro.
1938		2823
1939	=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>	2824	=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>
1940		2825
1941	This provides the loop I<parameter> for functions, if one is required ("ev	2826	This provides the loop I<parameter> for functions, if one is required ("ev
1942	loop parameter"). The C<EV_P> form is used when this is the sole parameter,	2827	loop parameter"). The C<EV_P> form is used when this is the sole parameter,
1943	C<EV_P_> is used when other parameters are following. Example:	2828	C<EV_P_> is used when other parameters are following. Example:
1944		2829
1945	// this is how ev_unref is being declared	2830	// this is how ev_unref is being declared
1946	static void ev_unref (EV_P);	2831	static void ev_unref (EV_P);
1947		2832
1948	// this is how you can declare your typical callback	2833	// this is how you can declare your typical callback
1949	static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	2834	static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1950		2835
1951	It declares a parameter C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *>, quite	2836	It declares a parameter C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *>, quite
1952	suitable for use with C<EV_A>.	2837	suitable for use with C<EV_A>.
1953		2838
1954	=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>	2839	=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>
1955		2840
1956	Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default	2841	Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
1957	loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").	2842	loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").
		2843
		2844	=item C<EV_DEFAULT_UC>, C<EV_DEFAULT_UC_>
		2845
		2846	Usage identical to C<EV_DEFAULT> and C<EV_DEFAULT_>, but requires that the
		2847	default loop has been initialised (C<UC> == unchecked). Their behaviour
		2848	is undefined when the default loop has not been initialised by a previous
		2849	execution of C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_> or C<ev_default_init (...)>.
		2850
		2851	It is often prudent to use C<EV_DEFAULT> when initialising the first
		2852	watcher in a function but use C<EV_DEFAULT_UC> afterwards.
1958		2853
1959	=back	2854	=back
1960		2855
1961	Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above	2856	Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above
1962	macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported	2857	macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported
1963	or not.	2858	or not.
1964		2859
1965	static void	2860	static void
1966	check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)	2861	check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1967	{	2862	{
1968	ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);	2863	ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);
1969	}	2864	}
1970		2865
1971	ev_check check;	2866	ev_check check;
1972	ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);	2867	ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);
1973	ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);	2868	ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);
1974	ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);	2869	ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
1975		2870
1976	=head1 EMBEDDING	2871	=head1 EMBEDDING
1977		2872
1978	Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host	2873	Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
1979	applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra	2874	applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
1980	Game Server, the EV perl module, the GNU Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)	2875	Game Server, the EV perl module, the GNU Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)
1981	and rxvt-unicode.	2876	and rxvt-unicode.
1982		2877
1983	The goal is to enable you to just copy the neecssary files into your	2878	The goal is to enable you to just copy the necessary files into your
1984	source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so	2879	source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so
1985	you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of	2880	you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of
1986	libev somewhere in your source tree).	2881	libev somewhere in your source tree).
1987		2882
1988	=head2 FILESETS	2883	=head2 FILESETS
1989		2884
1990	Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files	2885	Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files
1991	in your app.	2886	in your application.
1992		2887
1993	=head3 CORE EVENT LOOP	2888	=head3 CORE EVENT LOOP
1994		2889
1995	To include only the libev core (all the C<ev_*> functions), with manual	2890	To include only the libev core (all the C<ev_*> functions), with manual
1996	configuration (no autoconf):	2891	configuration (no autoconf):
1997		2892
1998	#define EV_STANDALONE 1	2893	#define EV_STANDALONE 1
1999	#include "ev.c"	2894	#include "ev.c"
2000		2895
2001	This will automatically include F<ev.h>, too, and should be done in a	2896	This will automatically include F<ev.h>, too, and should be done in a
2002	single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use	2897	single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use
2003	it, do the same for F<ev.h> in all files wishing to use this API (best	2898	it, do the same for F<ev.h> in all files wishing to use this API (best
2004	done by writing a wrapper around F<ev.h> that you can include instead and	2899	done by writing a wrapper around F<ev.h> that you can include instead and
2005	where you can put other configuration options):	2900	where you can put other configuration options):
2006		2901
2007	#define EV_STANDALONE 1	2902	#define EV_STANDALONE 1
2008	#include "ev.h"	2903	#include "ev.h"
2009		2904
2010	Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++	2905	Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++
2011	compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated	2906	compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated
2012	as a bug).	2907	as a bug).
2013		2908
2014	You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory	2909	You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory
2015	in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):	2910	in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):
2016		2911
2017	ev.h	2912	ev.h
2018	ev.c	2913	ev.c
2019	ev_vars.h	2914	ev_vars.h
2020	ev_wrap.h	2915	ev_wrap.h
2021		2916
2022	ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only	2917	ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only
2023		2918
2024	ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)	2919	ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)
2025	ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)	2920	ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2026	ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)	2921	ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2027	ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)	2922	ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2028	ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)	2923	ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2029		2924
2030	F<ev.c> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need	2925	F<ev.c> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need
2031	to compile this single file.	2926	to compile this single file.
2032		2927
2033	=head3 LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API	2928	=head3 LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API
2034		2929
2035	To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:	2930	To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:
2036		2931
2037	#include "event.c"	2932	#include "event.c"
2038		2933
2039	in the file including F<ev.c>, and:	2934	in the file including F<ev.c>, and:
2040		2935
2041	#include "event.h"	2936	#include "event.h"
2042		2937
2043	in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes F<ev.h>.	2938	in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes F<ev.h>.
2044		2939
2045	You need the following additional files for this:	2940	You need the following additional files for this:
2046		2941
2047	event.h	2942	event.h
2048	event.c	2943	event.c
2049		2944
2050	=head3 AUTOCONF SUPPORT	2945	=head3 AUTOCONF SUPPORT
2051		2946
2052	Instead of using C<EV_STANDALONE=1> and providing your config in	2947	Instead of using C<EV_STANDALONE=1> and providing your configuration in
2053	whatever way you want, you can also C<m4_include([libev.m4])> in your	2948	whatever way you want, you can also C<m4_include([libev.m4])> in your
2054	F<configure.ac> and leave C<EV_STANDALONE> undefined. F<ev.c> will then	2949	F<configure.ac> and leave C<EV_STANDALONE> undefined. F<ev.c> will then
2055	include F<config.h> and configure itself accordingly.	2950	include F<config.h> and configure itself accordingly.
2056		2951
2057	For this of course you need the m4 file:	2952	For this of course you need the m4 file:
2058		2953
2059	libev.m4	2954	libev.m4
2060		2955
2061	=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS	2956	=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS
2062		2957
2063	Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to define	2958	Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to
2064	before including any of its files. The default is not to build for multiplicity	2959	define before including any of its files. The default in the absence of
2065	and only include the select backend.	2960	autoconf is documented for every option.
2066		2961
2067	=over 4	2962	=over 4
2068		2963
2069	=item EV_STANDALONE	2964	=item EV_STANDALONE
2070		2965
…		…
2075	F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.	2970	F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.
2076		2971
2077	=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC	2972	=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC
2078		2973
2079	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the	2974	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2080	monotonic clock option at both compiletime and runtime. Otherwise no use	2975	monotonic clock option at both compile time and runtime. Otherwise no use
2081	of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you	2976	of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you
2082	usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when	2977	usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when
2083	the functionality isn't available is safe, though, althoguh you have	2978	the functionality isn't available is safe, though, although you have
2084	to make sure you link against any libraries where the C<clock_gettime>	2979	to make sure you link against any libraries where the C<clock_gettime>
2085	function is hiding in (often F<-lrt>).	2980	function is hiding in (often F<-lrt>).
2086		2981
2087	=item EV_USE_REALTIME	2982	=item EV_USE_REALTIME
2088		2983
2089	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the	2984	If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2090	realtime clock option at compiletime (and assume its availability at	2985	real-time clock option at compile time (and assume its availability at
2091	runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the realtime clock option will	2986	runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the real-time clock option will
2092	be attempted. This effectively replaces C<gettimeofday> by C<clock_get	2987	be attempted. This effectively replaces C<gettimeofday> by C<clock_get
2093	(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)> and will not normally affect correctness. See tzhe note about libraries	2988	(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)> and will not normally affect correctness. See the
2094	in the description of C<EV_USE_MONOTONIC>, though.	2989	note about libraries in the description of C<EV_USE_MONOTONIC>, though.
		2990
		2991	=item EV_USE_NANOSLEEP
		2992
		2993	If defined to be C<1>, libev will assume that C<nanosleep ()> is available
		2994	and will use it for delays. Otherwise it will use C<select ()>.
		2995
		2996	=item EV_USE_EVENTFD
		2997
		2998	If defined to be C<1>, then libev will assume that C<eventfd ()> is
		2999	available and will probe for kernel support at runtime. This will improve
		3000	C<ev_signal> and C<ev_async> performance and reduce resource consumption.
		3001	If undefined, it will be enabled if the headers indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc
		3002	2.7 or newer, otherwise disabled.
2095		3003
2096	=item EV_USE_SELECT	3004	=item EV_USE_SELECT
2097		3005
2098	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the	3006	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the
2099	C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no	3007	C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at auto-detection will be done: if no
2100	other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend	3008	other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend
2101	will not be compiled in.	3009	will not be compiled in.
2102		3010
2103	=item EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET	3011	=item EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET
2104		3012
2105	If defined to C<1>, then the select backend will use the system C<fd_set>	3013	If defined to C<1>, then the select backend will use the system C<fd_set>
2106	structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing	3014	structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing
2107	C<NFDBITS> or C<fd_mask> definition or it misguesses the bitset layout on	3015	C<NFDBITS> or C<fd_mask> definition or it mis-guesses the bitset layout on
2108	exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some	3016	exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some
2109	low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only	3017	low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only
2110	allows 64 sockets). The C<FD_SETSIZE> macro, set before compilation, might	3018	allows 64 sockets). The C<FD_SETSIZE> macro, set before compilation, might
2111	influence the size of the C<fd_set> used.	3019	influence the size of the C<fd_set> used.
2112		3020
…		…
2118	be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call	3026	be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
2119	C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,	3027	C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,
2120	it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even	3028	it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
2121	on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.	3029	on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.
2122		3030
		3031	=item EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE
		3032
		3033	If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> is enabled, then libev needs a way to map
		3034	file descriptors to socket handles. When not defining this symbol (the
		3035	default), then libev will call C<_get_osfhandle>, which is usually
		3036	correct. In some cases, programs use their own file descriptor management,
		3037	in which case they can provide this function to map fds to socket handles.
		3038
2123	=item EV_USE_POLL	3039	=item EV_USE_POLL
2124		3040
2125	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)	3041	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)
2126	backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It	3042	backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It
2127	takes precedence over select.	3043	takes precedence over select.
2128		3044
2129	=item EV_USE_EPOLL	3045	=item EV_USE_EPOLL
2130		3046
2131	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux	3047	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux
2132	C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,	3048	C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2133	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the	3049	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2134	preferred backend for GNU/Linux systems.	3050	backend for GNU/Linux systems. If undefined, it will be enabled if the
		3051	headers indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc 2.4 or newer, otherwise disabled.
2135		3052
2136	=item EV_USE_KQUEUE	3053	=item EV_USE_KQUEUE
2137		3054
2138	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style	3055	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style
2139	C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,	3056	C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,
…		…
2152	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred	3069	otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2153	backend for Solaris 10 systems.	3070	backend for Solaris 10 systems.
2154		3071
2155	=item EV_USE_DEVPOLL	3072	=item EV_USE_DEVPOLL
2156		3073
2157	reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.	3074	Reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.
2158		3075
2159	=item EV_USE_INOTIFY	3076	=item EV_USE_INOTIFY
2160		3077
2161	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify	3078	If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
2162	interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will	3079	interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will
2163	be detected at runtime.	3080	be detected at runtime. If undefined, it will be enabled if the headers
		3081	indicate GNU/Linux + Glibc 2.4 or newer, otherwise disabled.
		3082
		3083	=item EV_ATOMIC_T
		3084
		3085	Libev requires an integer type (suitable for storing C<0> or C<1>) whose
		3086	access is atomic with respect to other threads or signal contexts. No such
		3087	type is easily found in the C language, so you can provide your own type
		3088	that you know is safe for your purposes. It is used both for signal handler "locking"
		3089	as well as for signal and thread safety in C<ev_async> watchers.
		3090
		3091	In the absence of this define, libev will use C<sig_atomic_t volatile>
		3092	(from F<signal.h>), which is usually good enough on most platforms.
2164		3093
2165	=item EV_H	3094	=item EV_H
2166		3095
2167	The name of the F<ev.h> header file used to include it. The default if	3096	The name of the F<ev.h> header file used to include it. The default if
2168	undefined is C<< <ev.h> >> in F<event.h> and C<"ev.h"> in F<ev.c>. This	3097	undefined is C<"ev.h"> in F<event.h>, F<ev.c> and F<ev++.h>. This can be
2169	can be used to virtually rename the F<ev.h> header file in case of conflicts.	3098	used to virtually rename the F<ev.h> header file in case of conflicts.
2170		3099
2171	=item EV_CONFIG_H	3100	=item EV_CONFIG_H
2172		3101
2173	If C<EV_STANDALONE> isn't C<1>, this variable can be used to override	3102	If C<EV_STANDALONE> isn't C<1>, this variable can be used to override
2174	F<ev.c>'s idea of where to find the F<config.h> file, similarly to	3103	F<ev.c>'s idea of where to find the F<config.h> file, similarly to
2175	C<EV_H>, above.	3104	C<EV_H>, above.
2176		3105
2177	=item EV_EVENT_H	3106	=item EV_EVENT_H
2178		3107
2179	Similarly to C<EV_H>, this macro can be used to override F<event.c>'s idea	3108	Similarly to C<EV_H>, this macro can be used to override F<event.c>'s idea
2180	of how the F<event.h> header can be found.	3109	of how the F<event.h> header can be found, the default is C<"event.h">.
2181		3110
2182	=item EV_PROTOTYPES	3111	=item EV_PROTOTYPES
2183		3112
2184	If defined to be C<0>, then F<ev.h> will not define any function	3113	If defined to be C<0>, then F<ev.h> will not define any function
2185	prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is	3114	prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is
…		…
2206	When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search	3135	When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search
2207	all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space	3136	all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space
2208	and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (-2 .. +2) is usually	3137	and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (-2 .. +2) is usually
2209	fine.	3138	fine.
2210		3139
2211	If your embedding app does not need any priorities, defining these both to	3140	If your embedding application does not need any priorities, defining these
2212	C<0> will save some memory and cpu.	3141	both to C<0> will save some memory and CPU.
2213		3142
2214	=item EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE	3143	=item EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE
2215		3144
2216	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then periodic timers are supported. If	3145	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then periodic timers are supported. If
2217	defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of	3146	defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
…		…
2224	code.	3153	code.
2225		3154
2226	=item EV_EMBED_ENABLE	3155	=item EV_EMBED_ENABLE
2227		3156
2228	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then embed watchers are supported. If	3157	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then embed watchers are supported. If
2229	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.	3158	defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Embed watchers rely on most other
		3159	watcher types, which therefore must not be disabled.
2230		3160
2231	=item EV_STAT_ENABLE	3161	=item EV_STAT_ENABLE
2232		3162
2233	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then stat watchers are supported. If	3163	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then stat watchers are supported. If
2234	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.	3164	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
…		…
2236	=item EV_FORK_ENABLE	3166	=item EV_FORK_ENABLE
2237		3167
2238	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then fork watchers are supported. If	3168	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then fork watchers are supported. If
2239	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.	3169	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2240		3170
		3171	=item EV_ASYNC_ENABLE
		3172
		3173	If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then async watchers are supported. If
		3174	defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
		3175
2241	=item EV_MINIMAL	3176	=item EV_MINIMAL
2242		3177
2243	If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some	3178	If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some
2244	speed, define this symbol to C<1>. Currently only used for gcc to override	3179	speed, define this symbol to C<1>. Currently this is used to override some
2245	some inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% codesize of amd64.	3180	inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% code size on amd64. It also selects a
		3181	much smaller 2-heap for timer management over the default 4-heap.
2246		3182
2247	=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE	3183	=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE
2248		3184
2249	C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by	3185	C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2250	pid. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>), usually more	3186	pid. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>), usually more
2251	than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to	3187	than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to
2252	increase this value (I<must> be a power of two).	3188	increase this value (I<must> be a power of two).
2253		3189
2254	=item EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE	3190	=item EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE
2255		3191
2256	C<ev_staz> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by	3192	C<ev_stat> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2257	inotify watch id. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>),	3193	inotify watch id. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>),
2258	usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of C<ev_stat>	3194	usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of C<ev_stat>
2259	watchers you might want to increase this value (I<must> be a power of	3195	watchers you might want to increase this value (I<must> be a power of
2260	two).	3196	two).
2261		3197
		3198	=item EV_USE_4HEAP
		3199
		3200	Heaps are not very cache-efficient. To improve the cache-efficiency of the
		3201	timer and periodics heaps, libev uses a 4-heap when this symbol is defined
		3202	to C<1>. The 4-heap uses more complicated (longer) code but has noticeably
		3203	faster performance with many (thousands) of watchers.
		3204
		3205	The default is C<1> unless C<EV_MINIMAL> is set in which case it is C<0>
		3206	(disabled).
		3207
		3208	=item EV_HEAP_CACHE_AT
		3209
		3210	Heaps are not very cache-efficient. To improve the cache-efficiency of the
		3211	timer and periodics heaps, libev can cache the timestamp (I<at>) within
		3212	the heap structure (selected by defining C<EV_HEAP_CACHE_AT> to C<1>),
		3213	which uses 8-12 bytes more per watcher and a few hundred bytes more code,
		3214	but avoids random read accesses on heap changes. This improves performance
		3215	noticeably with many (hundreds) of watchers.
		3216
		3217	The default is C<1> unless C<EV_MINIMAL> is set in which case it is C<0>
		3218	(disabled).
		3219
		3220	=item EV_VERIFY
		3221
		3222	Controls how much internal verification (see C<ev_loop_verify ()>) will
		3223	be done: If set to C<0>, no internal verification code will be compiled
		3224	in. If set to C<1>, then verification code will be compiled in, but not
		3225	called. If set to C<2>, then the internal verification code will be
		3226	called once per loop, which can slow down libev. If set to C<3>, then the
		3227	verification code will be called very frequently, which will slow down
		3228	libev considerably.
		3229
		3230	The default is C<1>, unless C<EV_MINIMAL> is set, in which case it will be
		3231	C<0>.
		3232
2262	=item EV_COMMON	3233	=item EV_COMMON
2263		3234
2264	By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining	3235	By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining
2265	this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of	3236	this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of
2266	members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,	3237	members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
2267	though, and it must be identical each time.	3238	though, and it must be identical each time.
2268		3239
2269	For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:	3240	For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:
2270		3241
2271	#define EV_COMMON \	3242	#define EV_COMMON \
2272	SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \	3243	SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \
2273	SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing ";" */	3244	SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing ";" */
2274		3245
2275	=item EV_CB_DECLARE (type)	3246	=item EV_CB_DECLARE (type)
2276		3247
2277	=item EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)	3248	=item EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)
2278		3249
2279	=item ev_set_cb (ev, cb)	3250	=item ev_set_cb (ev, cb)
2280		3251
2281	Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,	3252	Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,
2282	and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member	3253	and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member
2283	definition and a statement, respectively. See the F<ev.v> header file for	3254	definition and a statement, respectively. See the F<ev.h> header file for
2284	their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to	3255	their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to
2285	avoid the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument in all cases, or to use	3256	avoid the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument in all cases, or to use
2286	method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.	3257	method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.
		3258
		3259	=back
		3260
		3261	=head2 EXPORTED API SYMBOLS
		3262
		3263	If you need to re-export the API (e.g. via a DLL) and you need a list of
		3264	exported symbols, you can use the provided F<Symbol.*> files which list
		3265	all public symbols, one per line:
		3266
		3267	Symbols.ev for libev proper
		3268	Symbols.event for the libevent emulation
		3269
		3270	This can also be used to rename all public symbols to avoid clashes with
		3271	multiple versions of libev linked together (which is obviously bad in
		3272	itself, but sometimes it is inconvenient to avoid this).
		3273
		3274	A sed command like this will create wrapper C<#define>'s that you need to
		3275	include before including F<ev.h>:
		3276
		3277	<Symbols.ev sed -e "s/.*/#define & myprefix_&/" >wrap.h
		3278
		3279	This would create a file F<wrap.h> which essentially looks like this:
		3280
		3281	#define ev_backend myprefix_ev_backend
		3282	#define ev_check_start myprefix_ev_check_start
		3283	#define ev_check_stop myprefix_ev_check_stop
		3284	...
2287		3285
2288	=head2 EXAMPLES	3286	=head2 EXAMPLES
2289		3287
2290	For a real-world example of a program the includes libev	3288	For a real-world example of a program the includes libev
2291	verbatim, you can have a look at the EV perl module	3289	verbatim, you can have a look at the EV perl module
…		…
2296	file.	3294	file.
2297		3295
2298	The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file	3296	The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file
2299	that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:	3297	that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:
2300		3298
2301	#define EV_MINIMAL 1	3299	#define EV_MINIMAL 1
2302	#define EV_USE_POLL 0	3300	#define EV_USE_POLL 0
2303	#define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0	3301	#define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
2304	#define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0	3302	#define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0
2305	#define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0	3303	#define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0
2306	#define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0	3304	#define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0
2307	#define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>	3305	#define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>
2308	#define EV_MINPRI 0	3306	#define EV_MINPRI 0
2309	#define EV_MAXPRI 0	3307	#define EV_MAXPRI 0
2310		3308
2311	#include "ev++.h"	3309	#include "ev++.h"
2312		3310
2313	And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:	3311	And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:
2314		3312
2315	#include "ev_cpp.h"	3313	#include "ev_cpp.h"
2316	#include "ev.c"	3314	#include "ev.c"
2317		3315
		3316	=head1 INTERACTION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS OR LIBRARIES
2318		3317
		3318	=head2 THREADS AND COROUTINES
		3319
		3320	=head3 THREADS
		3321
		3322	All libev functions are reentrant and thread-safe unless explicitly
		3323	documented otherwise, but libev implements no locking itself. This means
		3324	that you can use as many loops as you want in parallel, as long as there
		3325	are no concurrent calls into any libev function with the same loop
		3326	parameter (C<ev_default_*> calls have an implicit default loop parameter,
		3327	of course): libev guarantees that different event loops share no data
		3328	structures that need any locking.
		3329
		3330	Or to put it differently: calls with different loop parameters can be done
		3331	concurrently from multiple threads, calls with the same loop parameter
		3332	must be done serially (but can be done from different threads, as long as
		3333	only one thread ever is inside a call at any point in time, e.g. by using
		3334	a mutex per loop).
		3335
		3336	Specifically to support threads (and signal handlers), libev implements
		3337	so-called C<ev_async> watchers, which allow some limited form of
		3338	concurrency on the same event loop, namely waking it up "from the
		3339	outside".
		3340
		3341	If you want to know which design (one loop, locking, or multiple loops
		3342	without or something else still) is best for your problem, then I cannot
		3343	help you, but here is some generic advice:
		3344
		3345	=over 4
		3346
		3347	=item * most applications have a main thread: use the default libev loop
		3348	in that thread, or create a separate thread running only the default loop.
		3349
		3350	This helps integrating other libraries or software modules that use libev
		3351	themselves and don't care/know about threading.
		3352
		3353	=item * one loop per thread is usually a good model.
		3354
		3355	Doing this is almost never wrong, sometimes a better-performance model
		3356	exists, but it is always a good start.
		3357
		3358	=item * other models exist, such as the leader/follower pattern, where one
		3359	loop is handed through multiple threads in a kind of round-robin fashion.
		3360
		3361	Choosing a model is hard - look around, learn, know that usually you can do
		3362	better than you currently do :-)
		3363
		3364	=item * often you need to talk to some other thread which blocks in the
		3365	event loop.
		3366
		3367	C<ev_async> watchers can be used to wake them up from other threads safely
		3368	(or from signal contexts...).
		3369
		3370	An example use would be to communicate signals or other events that only
		3371	work in the default loop by registering the signal watcher with the
		3372	default loop and triggering an C<ev_async> watcher from the default loop
		3373	watcher callback into the event loop interested in the signal.
		3374
		3375	=back
		3376
		3377	=head3 COROUTINES
		3378
		3379	Libev is very accommodating to coroutines ("cooperative threads"):
		3380	libev fully supports nesting calls to its functions from different
		3381	coroutines (e.g. you can call C<ev_loop> on the same loop from two
		3382	different coroutines, and switch freely between both coroutines running the
		3383	loop, as long as you don't confuse yourself). The only exception is that
		3384	you must not do this from C<ev_periodic> reschedule callbacks.
		3385
		3386	Care has been taken to ensure that libev does not keep local state inside
		3387	C<ev_loop>, and other calls do not usually allow for coroutine switches as
		3388	they do not clal any callbacks.
		3389
		3390	=head2 COMPILER WARNINGS
		3391
		3392	Depending on your compiler and compiler settings, you might get no or a
		3393	lot of warnings when compiling libev code. Some people are apparently
		3394	scared by this.
		3395
		3396	However, these are unavoidable for many reasons. For one, each compiler
		3397	has different warnings, and each user has different tastes regarding
		3398	warning options. "Warn-free" code therefore cannot be a goal except when
		3399	targeting a specific compiler and compiler-version.
		3400
		3401	Another reason is that some compiler warnings require elaborate
		3402	workarounds, or other changes to the code that make it less clear and less
		3403	maintainable.
		3404
		3405	And of course, some compiler warnings are just plain stupid, or simply
		3406	wrong (because they don't actually warn about the condition their message
		3407	seems to warn about). For example, certain older gcc versions had some
		3408	warnings that resulted an extreme number of false positives. These have
		3409	been fixed, but some people still insist on making code warn-free with
		3410	such buggy versions.
		3411
		3412	While libev is written to generate as few warnings as possible,
		3413	"warn-free" code is not a goal, and it is recommended not to build libev
		3414	with any compiler warnings enabled unless you are prepared to cope with
		3415	them (e.g. by ignoring them). Remember that warnings are just that:
		3416	warnings, not errors, or proof of bugs.
		3417
		3418
		3419	=head2 VALGRIND
		3420
		3421	Valgrind has a special section here because it is a popular tool that is
		3422	highly useful. Unfortunately, valgrind reports are very hard to interpret.
		3423
		3424	If you think you found a bug (memory leak, uninitialised data access etc.)
		3425	in libev, then check twice: If valgrind reports something like:
		3426
		3427	==2274== definitely lost: 0 bytes in 0 blocks.
		3428	==2274== possibly lost: 0 bytes in 0 blocks.
		3429	==2274== still reachable: 256 bytes in 1 blocks.
		3430
		3431	Then there is no memory leak, just as memory accounted to global variables
		3432	is not a memleak - the memory is still being refernced, and didn't leak.
		3433
		3434	Similarly, under some circumstances, valgrind might report kernel bugs
		3435	as if it were a bug in libev (e.g. in realloc or in the poll backend,
		3436	although an acceptable workaround has been found here), or it might be
		3437	confused.
		3438
		3439	Keep in mind that valgrind is a very good tool, but only a tool. Don't
		3440	make it into some kind of religion.
		3441
		3442	If you are unsure about something, feel free to contact the mailing list
		3443	with the full valgrind report and an explanation on why you think this
		3444	is a bug in libev (best check the archives, too :). However, don't be
		3445	annoyed when you get a brisk "this is no bug" answer and take the chance
		3446	of learning how to interpret valgrind properly.
		3447
		3448	If you need, for some reason, empty reports from valgrind for your project
		3449	I suggest using suppression lists.
		3450
		3451
		3452	=head1 PORTABILITY NOTES
		3453
		3454	=head2 WIN32 PLATFORM LIMITATIONS AND WORKAROUNDS
		3455
		3456	Win32 doesn't support any of the standards (e.g. POSIX) that libev
		3457	requires, and its I/O model is fundamentally incompatible with the POSIX
		3458	model. Libev still offers limited functionality on this platform in
		3459	the form of the C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> backend, and only supports socket
		3460	descriptors. This only applies when using Win32 natively, not when using
		3461	e.g. cygwin.
		3462
		3463	Lifting these limitations would basically require the full
		3464	re-implementation of the I/O system. If you are into these kinds of
		3465	things, then note that glib does exactly that for you in a very portable
		3466	way (note also that glib is the slowest event library known to man).
		3467
		3468	There is no supported compilation method available on windows except
		3469	embedding it into other applications.
		3470
		3471	Not a libev limitation but worth mentioning: windows apparently doesn't
		3472	accept large writes: instead of resulting in a partial write, windows will
		3473	either accept everything or return C<ENOBUFS> if the buffer is too large,
		3474	so make sure you only write small amounts into your sockets (less than a
		3475	megabyte seems safe, but this apparently depends on the amount of memory
		3476	available).
		3477
		3478	Due to the many, low, and arbitrary limits on the win32 platform and
		3479	the abysmal performance of winsockets, using a large number of sockets
		3480	is not recommended (and not reasonable). If your program needs to use
		3481	more than a hundred or so sockets, then likely it needs to use a totally
		3482	different implementation for windows, as libev offers the POSIX readiness
		3483	notification model, which cannot be implemented efficiently on windows
		3484	(Microsoft monopoly games).
		3485
		3486	A typical way to use libev under windows is to embed it (see the embedding
		3487	section for details) and use the following F<evwrap.h> header file instead
		3488	of F<ev.h>:
		3489
		3490	#define EV_STANDALONE /* keeps ev from requiring config.h */
		3491	#define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* configure libev for windows select */
		3492
		3493	#include "ev.h"
		3494
		3495	And compile the following F<evwrap.c> file into your project (make sure
		3496	you do I<not> compile the F<ev.c> or any other embedded source files!):
		3497
		3498	#include "evwrap.h"
		3499	#include "ev.c"
		3500
		3501	=over 4
		3502
		3503	=item The winsocket select function
		3504
		3505	The winsocket C<select> function doesn't follow POSIX in that it
		3506	requires socket I<handles> and not socket I<file descriptors> (it is
		3507	also extremely buggy). This makes select very inefficient, and also
		3508	requires a mapping from file descriptors to socket handles (the Microsoft
		3509	C runtime provides the function C<_open_osfhandle> for this). See the
		3510	discussion of the C<EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET>, C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> and
		3511	C<EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE> preprocessor symbols for more info.
		3512
		3513	The configuration for a "naked" win32 using the Microsoft runtime
		3514	libraries and raw winsocket select is:
		3515
		3516	#define EV_USE_SELECT 1
		3517	#define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* forces EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET, too */
		3518
		3519	Note that winsockets handling of fd sets is O(n), so you can easily get a
		3520	complexity in the O(n²) range when using win32.
		3521
		3522	=item Limited number of file descriptors
		3523
		3524	Windows has numerous arbitrary (and low) limits on things.
		3525
		3526	Early versions of winsocket's select only supported waiting for a maximum
		3527	of C<64> handles (probably owning to the fact that all windows kernels
		3528	can only wait for C<64> things at the same time internally; Microsoft
		3529	recommends spawning a chain of threads and wait for 63 handles and the
		3530	previous thread in each. Great).
		3531
		3532	Newer versions support more handles, but you need to define C<FD_SETSIZE>
		3533	to some high number (e.g. C<2048>) before compiling the winsocket select
		3534	call (which might be in libev or elsewhere, for example, perl does its own
		3535	select emulation on windows).
		3536
		3537	Another limit is the number of file descriptors in the Microsoft runtime
		3538	libraries, which by default is C<64> (there must be a hidden I<64> fetish
		3539	or something like this inside Microsoft). You can increase this by calling
		3540	C<_setmaxstdio>, which can increase this limit to C<2048> (another
		3541	arbitrary limit), but is broken in many versions of the Microsoft runtime
		3542	libraries.
		3543
		3544	This might get you to about C<512> or C<2048> sockets (depending on
		3545	windows version and/or the phase of the moon). To get more, you need to
		3546	wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but the cost of
		3547	calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable.
		3548
		3549	=back
		3550
		3551	=head2 PORTABILITY REQUIREMENTS
		3552
		3553	In addition to a working ISO-C implementation and of course the
		3554	backend-specific APIs, libev relies on a few additional extensions:
		3555
		3556	=over 4
		3557
		3558	=item C<void (*)(ev_watcher_type *, int revents)> must have compatible
		3559	calling conventions regardless of C<ev_watcher_type *>.
		3560
		3561	Libev assumes not only that all watcher pointers have the same internal
		3562	structure (guaranteed by POSIX but not by ISO C for example), but it also
		3563	assumes that the same (machine) code can be used to call any watcher
		3564	callback: The watcher callbacks have different type signatures, but libev
		3565	calls them using an C<ev_watcher *> internally.
		3566
		3567	=item C<sig_atomic_t volatile> must be thread-atomic as well
		3568
		3569	The type C<sig_atomic_t volatile> (or whatever is defined as
		3570	C<EV_ATOMIC_T>) must be atomic with respect to accesses from different
		3571	threads. This is not part of the specification for C<sig_atomic_t>, but is
		3572	believed to be sufficiently portable.
		3573
		3574	=item C<sigprocmask> must work in a threaded environment
		3575
		3576	Libev uses C<sigprocmask> to temporarily block signals. This is not
		3577	allowed in a threaded program (C<pthread_sigmask> has to be used). Typical
		3578	pthread implementations will either allow C<sigprocmask> in the "main
		3579	thread" or will block signals process-wide, both behaviours would
		3580	be compatible with libev. Interaction between C<sigprocmask> and
		3581	C<pthread_sigmask> could complicate things, however.
		3582
		3583	The most portable way to handle signals is to block signals in all threads
		3584	except the initial one, and run the default loop in the initial thread as
		3585	well.
		3586
		3587	=item C<long> must be large enough for common memory allocation sizes
		3588
		3589	To improve portability and simplify its API, libev uses C<long> internally
		3590	instead of C<size_t> when allocating its data structures. On non-POSIX
		3591	systems (Microsoft...) this might be unexpectedly low, but is still at
		3592	least 31 bits everywhere, which is enough for hundreds of millions of
		3593	watchers.
		3594
		3595	=item C<double> must hold a time value in seconds with enough accuracy
		3596
		3597	The type C<double> is used to represent timestamps. It is required to
		3598	have at least 51 bits of mantissa (and 9 bits of exponent), which is good
		3599	enough for at least into the year 4000. This requirement is fulfilled by
		3600	implementations implementing IEEE 754 (basically all existing ones).
		3601
		3602	=back
		3603
		3604	If you know of other additional requirements drop me a note.
		3605
		3606
2319	=head1 COMPLEXITIES	3607	=head1 ALGORITHMIC COMPLEXITIES
2320		3608
2321	In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside	3609	In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
2322	libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the	3610	libev will be documented. For complexity discussions about backends see
2323	documentation for C<ev_default_init>.	3611	the documentation for C<ev_default_init>.
2324		3612
2325	All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be	3613	All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be
2326	extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this	3614	extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this
2327	happens asymptotically never with higher number of elements, so O(1) might	3615	happens asymptotically rarer with higher number of elements, so O(1) might
2328	mean it might do a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on average	3616	mean that libev does a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on
2329	it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.	3617	average it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.
2330		3618
2331	=over 4	3619	=over 4
2332		3620
2333	=item Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)	3621	=item Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)
2334		3622
2335	This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and	3623	This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and
2336	there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that then inserting will	3624	there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that, then inserting will
2337	have to skip those 100 watchers.	3625	have to skip roughly seven (C<ld 100>) of these watchers.
2338		3626
2339	=item Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat, again): O(log skipped_other_timers)	3627	=item Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat or calling again): O(log skipped_other_timers)
2340		3628
2341	That means that for changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them	3629	That means that changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them,
2342	as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.	3630	as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.
2343		3631
2344	=item Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child watchers: O(1)	3632	=item Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child/fork/async watchers: O(1)
2345		3633
2346	These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.	3634	These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.
		3635
2347	=item Stopping check/prepare/idle watchers: O(1)	3636	=item Stopping check/prepare/idle/fork/async watchers: O(1)
2348		3637
2349	=item Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))	3638	=item Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))
2350		3639
2351	These watchers are stored in lists then need to be walked to find the	3640	These watchers are stored in lists, so they need to be walked to find the
2352	correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually	3641	correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually
2353	have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal).	3642	have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal: one is typical, two
		3643	is rare).
2354		3644
2355	=item Finding the next timer per loop iteration: O(1)	3645	=item Finding the next timer in each loop iteration: O(1)
		3646
		3647	By virtue of using a binary or 4-heap, the next timer is always found at a
		3648	fixed position in the storage array.
2356		3649
2357	=item Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)	3650	=item Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)
2358		3651
2359	A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires	3652	A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires
2360	libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel).	3653	libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel, depending
		3654	on backend and whether C<ev_io_set> was used).
2361		3655
2362	=item Activating one watcher: O(1)	3656	=item Activating one watcher (putting it into the pending state): O(1)
2363		3657
2364	=item Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)	3658	=item Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)
2365		3659
2366	Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each	3660	Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each
2367	priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to	3661	priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to
2368	linearly search all the priorities.	3662	linearly search all the priorities, but starting/stopping and activating
		3663	watchers becomes O(1) with respect to priority handling.
		3664
		3665	=item Sending an ev_async: O(1)
		3666
		3667	=item Processing ev_async_send: O(number_of_async_watchers)
		3668
		3669	=item Processing signals: O(max_signal_number)
		3670
		3671	Sending involves a system call I<iff> there were no other C<ev_async_send>
		3672	calls in the current loop iteration. Checking for async and signal events
		3673	involves iterating over all running async watchers or all signal numbers.
2369		3674
2370	=back	3675	=back
2371		3676
2372		3677
2373	=head1 AUTHOR	3678	=head1 AUTHOR

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