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Revision 1.76 by root, Sat Dec 8 15:30:30 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.78 by root, Sun Dec 9 19:42:57 2007 UTC

486libev watchers. However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is 486libev watchers. However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is
487usually a better approach for this kind of thing. 487usually a better approach for this kind of thing.
488 488
489Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does: 489Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does:
490 490
491 - Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
491 * If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return. 492 * If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return.
492 - Queue prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers. 493 - Queue all prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers.
493 - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state. 494 - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.
494 - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes. 495 - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
495 - Update the "event loop time". 496 - Update the "event loop time".
496 - Calculate for how long to block. 497 - Calculate for how long to block.
497 - Block the process, waiting for any events. 498 - Block the process, waiting for any events.
1073but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher 1074but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher
1074to trigger "at" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a 1075to trigger "at" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a
1075periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. C<ev_now () 1076periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. C<ev_now ()
1076+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will 1077+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will
1077take a year to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would trigger 1078take a year to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would trigger
1078roughly 10 seconds later and of course not if you reset your system time 1079roughly 10 seconds later).
1079again).
1080 1080
1081They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as 1081They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as
1082triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time. 1082triggering an event on each midnight, local time or other, complicated,
1083rules.
1083 1084
1084As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the 1085As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the
1085time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready 1086time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
1086during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined. 1087during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.
1087 1088
1094Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of 1095Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of
1095operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex: 1096operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:
1096 1097
1097=over 4 1098=over 4
1098 1099
1099=item * absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0) 1100=item * absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)
1100 1101
1101In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time 1102In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time
1102C<at> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs, 1103C<at> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs,
1103that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the 1104that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the
1104system time reaches or surpasses this time. 1105system time reaches or surpasses this time.
1105 1106
1106=item * non-repeating interval timer (interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0) 1107=item * non-repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)
1107 1108
1108In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next 1109In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next
1109C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N) and then repeat, regardless 1110C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)
1110of any time jumps. 1111and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps.
1111 1112
1112This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system 1113This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system
1113time: 1114time:
1114 1115
1115 ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0); 1116 ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);
1121 1122
1122Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that 1123Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
1123C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible 1124C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
1124time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps. 1125time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.
1125 1126
1127For numerical stability it is preferable that the C<at> value is near
1128C<ev_now ()> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
1129this value.
1130
1126=item * manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback) 1131=item * manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)
1127 1132
1128In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being 1133In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being
1129ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the 1134ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
1130reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the 1135reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
1131current time as second argument. 1136current time as second argument.
1132 1137
1133NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher, 1138NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,
1134ever, or make any event loop modifications>. If you need to stop it, 1139ever, or make any event loop modifications>. If you need to stop it,
1135return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by 1140return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
1136starting a prepare watcher). 1141starting an C<ev_prepare> watcher, which is legal).
1137 1142
1138Its prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, 1143Its prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,
1139ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.: 1144ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:
1140 1145
1141 static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) 1146 static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1163 1168
1164Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful 1169Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
1165when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return 1170when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return
1166a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like 1171a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
1167program when the crontabs have changed). 1172program when the crontabs have changed).
1173
1174=item ev_tstamp offset [read-write]
1175
1176When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
1177absolute point in time (the C<at> value passed to C<ev_periodic_set>).
1178
1179Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
1180timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1168 1181
1169=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write] 1182=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]
1170 1183
1171The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only 1184The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1172take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being 1185take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being
1481with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine 1494with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine
1482of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event 1495of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
1483loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping 1496loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
1484low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks). 1497low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).
1485 1498
1499It is recommended to give C<ev_check> watchers highest (C<EV_MAXPRI>)
1500priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers
1501after the poll. Also, C<ev_check> watchers (and C<ev_prepare> watchers,
1502too) should not activate ("feed") events into libev. While libev fully
1503supports this, they will be called before other C<ev_check> watchers did
1504their job. As C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other event
1505loops those other event loops might be in an unusable state until their
1506C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to coexist peacefully with
1507others).
1508
1486=over 4 1509=over 4
1487 1510
1488=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback) 1511=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)
1489 1512
1490=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback) 1513=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)

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