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4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 #include <ev.h> 7 #include <ev.h>
8 8
9=head2 EXAMPLE PROGRAM
10
11 #include <ev.h>
12
13 ev_io stdin_watcher;
14 ev_timer timeout_watcher;
15
16 /* called when data readable on stdin */
17 static void
18 stdin_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_io *w, int revents)
19 {
20 /* puts ("stdin ready"); */
21 ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w); /* just a syntax example */
22 ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ALL); /* leave all loop calls */
23 }
24
25 static void
26 timeout_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
27 {
28 /* puts ("timeout"); */
29 ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ONE); /* leave one loop call */
30 }
31
32 int
33 main (void)
34 {
35 struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
36
37 /* initialise an io watcher, then start it */
38 ev_io_init (&stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);
39 ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
40
41 /* simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout */
42 ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
43 ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);
44
45 /* loop till timeout or data ready */
46 ev_loop (loop, 0);
47
48 return 0;
49 }
50
9=head1 DESCRIPTION 51=head1 DESCRIPTION
10 52
53The newest version of this document is also available as a html-formatted
54web page you might find easier to navigate when reading it for the first
55time: L<http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.html>.
56
11Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a 57Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a
12file descriptor being readable or a timeout occuring), and it will manage 58file descriptor being readable or a timeout occurring), and it will manage
13these event sources and provide your program with events. 59these event sources and provide your program with events.
14 60
15To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process 61To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process
16(or thread) by executing the I<event loop> handler, and will then 62(or thread) by executing the I<event loop> handler, and will then
17communicate events via a callback mechanism. 63communicate events via a callback mechanism.
19You register interest in certain events by registering so-called I<event 65You register interest in certain events by registering so-called I<event
20watchers>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the 66watchers>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the
21details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by I<starting> the 67details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by I<starting> the
22watcher. 68watcher.
23 69
24=head1 FEATURES 70=head2 FEATURES
25 71
26Libev supports select, poll, the linux-specific epoll and the bsd-specific 72Libev supports C<select>, C<poll>, the Linux-specific C<epoll>, the
27kqueue mechanisms for file descriptor events, relative timers, absolute 73BSD-specific C<kqueue> and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms
28timers with customised rescheduling, signal events, process status change 74for file descriptor events (C<ev_io>), the Linux C<inotify> interface
29events (related to SIGCHLD), and event watchers dealing with the event 75(for C<ev_stat>), relative timers (C<ev_timer>), absolute timers
30loop mechanism itself (idle, prepare and check watchers). It also is quite 76with customised rescheduling (C<ev_periodic>), synchronous signals
77(C<ev_signal>), process status change events (C<ev_child>), and event
78watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (C<ev_idle>,
79C<ev_embed>, C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> watchers) as well as
80file watchers (C<ev_stat>) and even limited support for fork events
81(C<ev_fork>).
82
83It also is quite fast (see this
31fast (see this L<benchmark|http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html> comparing 84L<benchmark|http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html> comparing it to libevent
32it to libevent for example). 85for example).
33 86
34=head1 CONVENTIONS 87=head2 CONVENTIONS
35 88
36Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration 89Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration will
37will be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info 90be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info about
38about various configuration options please have a look at the file 91various configuration options please have a look at B<EMBED> section in
39F<README.embed> in the libev distribution. If libev was configured without 92this manual. If libev was configured without support for multiple event
40support for multiple event loops, then all functions taking an initial 93loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of name C<loop>
41argument of name C<loop> (which is always of type C<struct ev_loop *>) 94(which is always of type C<struct ev_loop *>) will not have this argument.
42will not have this argument.
43 95
44=head1 TIME AND OTHER GLOBAL FUNCTIONS 96=head2 TIME REPRESENTATION
45 97
46Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the 98Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the
47(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near 99(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near
48the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is 100the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is
49called C<ev_tstamp>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases 101called C<ev_tstamp>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases
50to the double type in C. 102to the C<double> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on
103it, you should treat it as some floatingpoint value. Unlike the name
104component C<stamp> might indicate, it is also used for time differences
105throughout libev.
106
107=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
108
109These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the
110library in any way.
51 111
52=over 4 112=over 4
53 113
54=item ev_tstamp ev_time () 114=item ev_tstamp ev_time ()
55 115
56Returns the current time as libev would use it. 116Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the
117C<ev_now> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp
118you actually want to know.
119
120=item ev_sleep (ev_tstamp interval)
121
122Sleep for the given interval: The current thread will be blocked until
123either it is interrupted or the given time interval has passed. Basically
124this is a subsecond-resolution C<sleep ()>.
57 125
58=item int ev_version_major () 126=item int ev_version_major ()
59 127
60=item int ev_version_minor () 128=item int ev_version_minor ()
61 129
62You can find out the major and minor version numbers of the library 130You can find out the major and minor ABI version numbers of the library
63you linked against by calling the functions C<ev_version_major> and 131you linked against by calling the functions C<ev_version_major> and
64C<ev_version_minor>. If you want, you can compare against the global 132C<ev_version_minor>. If you want, you can compare against the global
65symbols C<EV_VERSION_MAJOR> and C<EV_VERSION_MINOR>, which specify the 133symbols C<EV_VERSION_MAJOR> and C<EV_VERSION_MINOR>, which specify the
66version of the library your program was compiled against. 134version of the library your program was compiled against.
67 135
136These version numbers refer to the ABI version of the library, not the
137release version.
138
68Usually, its a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch, 139Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch,
69as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually 140as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
70compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually 141compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually
71not a problem. 142not a problem.
72 143
144Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
145version.
146
147 assert (("libev version mismatch",
148 ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR
149 && ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));
150
151=item unsigned int ev_supported_backends ()
152
153Return the set of all backends (i.e. their corresponding C<EV_BACKEND_*>
154value) compiled into this binary of libev (independent of their
155availability on the system you are running on). See C<ev_default_loop> for
156a description of the set values.
157
158Example: make sure we have the epoll method, because yeah this is cool and
159a must have and can we have a torrent of it please!!!11
160
161 assert (("sorry, no epoll, no sex",
162 ev_supported_backends () & EVBACKEND_EPOLL));
163
164=item unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()
165
166Return the set of all backends compiled into this binary of libev and also
167recommended for this platform. This set is often smaller than the one
168returned by C<ev_supported_backends>, as for example kqueue is broken on
169most BSDs and will not be autodetected unless you explicitly request it
170(assuming you know what you are doing). This is the set of backends that
171libev will probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.
172
173=item unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()
174
175Returns the set of backends that are embeddable in other event loops. This
176is the theoretical, all-platform, value. To find which backends
177might be supported on the current system, you would need to look at
178C<ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()>, likewise for
179recommended ones.
180
181See the description of C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
182
73=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size)) 183=item ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))
74 184
75Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar to the 185Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the
76realloc C function, the semantics are identical). It is used to allocate 186semantics is identical - to the realloc C function). It is used to
77and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when memory 187allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when
78needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some potentially 188memory needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some
79destructive action. The default is your system realloc function. 189potentially destructive action. The default is your system realloc
190function.
80 191
81You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say, 192You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,
82free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator, 193free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,
83or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available. 194or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.
195
196Example: Replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then
197retries).
198
199 static void *
200 persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)
201 {
202 for (;;)
203 {
204 void *newptr = realloc (ptr, size);
205
206 if (newptr)
207 return newptr;
208
209 sleep (60);
210 }
211 }
212
213 ...
214 ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);
84 215
85=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg)); 216=item ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg));
86 217
87Set the callback function to call on a retryable syscall error (such 218Set the callback function to call on a retryable syscall error (such
88as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string 219as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string
90callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no 221callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no
91matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the 222matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the
92requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff 223requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff
93(such as abort). 224(such as abort).
94 225
226Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.
227
228 static void
229 fatal_error (const char *msg)
230 {
231 perror (msg);
232 abort ();
233 }
234
235 ...
236 ev_set_syserr_cb (fatal_error);
237
95=back 238=back
96 239
97=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP 240=head1 FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP
98 241
99An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *>. The library knows two 242An event loop is described by a C<struct ev_loop *>. The library knows two
100types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which supports signals and child 243types of such loops, the I<default> loop, which supports signals and child
101events, and dynamically created loops which do not. 244events, and dynamically created loops which do not.
102 245
103If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop 246If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop
104in your main thread (or in a separate thrad) and for each thread you 247in your main thread (or in a separate thread) and for each thread you
105create, you also create another event loop. Libev itself does no locking 248create, you also create another event loop. Libev itself does no locking
106whatsoever, so if you mix calls to the same event loop in different 249whatsoever, so if you mix calls to the same event loop in different
107threads, make sure you lock (this is usually a bad idea, though, even if 250threads, make sure you lock (this is usually a bad idea, though, even if
108done correctly, because its hideous and inefficient). 251done correctly, because it's hideous and inefficient).
109 252
110=over 4 253=over 4
111 254
112=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags) 255=item struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)
113 256
114This will initialise the default event loop if it hasn't been initialised 257This will initialise the default event loop if it hasn't been initialised
115yet and return it. If the default loop could not be initialised, returns 258yet and return it. If the default loop could not be initialised, returns
116false. If it already was initialised it simply returns it (and ignores the 259false. If it already was initialised it simply returns it (and ignores the
117flags). 260flags. If that is troubling you, check C<ev_backend ()> afterwards).
118 261
119If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this 262If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this
120function. 263function.
121 264
265The default loop is the only loop that can handle C<ev_signal> and
266C<ev_child> watchers, and to do this, it always registers a handler
267for C<SIGCHLD>. If this is a problem for your app you can either
268create a dynamic loop with C<ev_loop_new> that doesn't do that, or you
269can simply overwrite the C<SIGCHLD> signal handler I<after> calling
270C<ev_default_init>.
271
122The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific 272The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific
123backends to use, and is usually specified as 0 (or EVFLAG_AUTO). 273backends to use, and is usually specified as C<0> (or C<EVFLAG_AUTO>).
124 274
125It supports the following flags: 275The following flags are supported:
126 276
127=over 4 277=over 4
128 278
129=item EVFLAG_AUTO 279=item C<EVFLAG_AUTO>
130 280
131The default flags value. Use this if you have no clue (its the right 281The default flags value. Use this if you have no clue (it's the right
132thing, believe me). 282thing, believe me).
133 283
134=item EVFLAG_NOENV 284=item C<EVFLAG_NOENV>
135 285
136If this flag bit is ored into the flag value (or the program runs setuid 286If this flag bit is ored into the flag value (or the program runs setuid
137or setgid) then libev will I<not> look at the environment variable 287or setgid) then libev will I<not> look at the environment variable
138C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will 288C<LIBEV_FLAGS>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
139override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is 289override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is
140useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work 290useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work
141around bugs. 291around bugs.
142 292
293=item C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>
294
295Instead of calling C<ev_default_fork> or C<ev_loop_fork> manually after
296a fork, you can also make libev check for a fork in each iteration by
297enabling this flag.
298
299This works by calling C<getpid ()> on every iteration of the loop,
300and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop
301iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my
302Linux system for example, C<getpid> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence
303without a syscall and thus I<very> fast, but my Linux system also has
304C<pthread_atfork> which is even faster).
305
306The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and
307forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this
308flag.
309
310This flag setting cannot be overriden or specified in the C<LIBEV_FLAGS>
311environment variable.
312
143=item EVMETHOD_SELECT portable select backend 313=item C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> (value 1, portable select backend)
144 314
145=item EVMETHOD_POLL poll backend (everywhere except windows) 315This is your standard select(2) backend. Not I<completely> standard, as
316libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,
317but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when
318using this backend. It doesn't scale too well (O(highest_fd)), but its
319usually the fastest backend for a low number of (low-numbered :) fds.
146 320
147=item EVMETHOD_EPOLL linux only 321To get good performance out of this backend you need a high amount of
322parallelity (most of the file descriptors should be busy). If you are
323writing a server, you should C<accept ()> in a loop to accept as many
324connections as possible during one iteration. You might also want to have
325a look at C<ev_set_io_collect_interval ()> to increase the amount of
326readyness notifications you get per iteration.
148 327
149=item EVMETHOD_KQUEUE some bsds only 328=item C<EVBACKEND_POLL> (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)
150 329
151=item EVMETHOD_DEVPOLL solaris 8 only 330And this is your standard poll(2) backend. It's more complicated
331than select, but handles sparse fds better and has no artificial
332limit on the number of fds you can use (except it will slow down
333considerably with a lot of inactive fds). It scales similarly to select,
334i.e. O(total_fds). See the entry for C<EVBACKEND_SELECT>, above, for
335performance tips.
152 336
153=item EVMETHOD_PORT solaris 10 only 337=item C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL> (value 4, Linux)
338
339For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,
340but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale
341like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd),
342epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds). The epoll design has a number
343of shortcomings, such as silently dropping events in some hard-to-detect
344cases and rewiring a syscall per fd change, no fork support and bad
345support for dup.
346
347While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration
348will result in some caching, there is still a syscall per such incident
349(because the fd could point to a different file description now), so its
350best to avoid that. Also, C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors might not work
351very well if you register events for both fds.
352
353Please note that epoll sometimes generates spurious notifications, so you
354need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid blocking when no data
355(or space) is available.
356
357Best performance from this backend is achieved by not unregistering all
358watchers for a file descriptor until it has been closed, if possible, i.e.
359keep at least one watcher active per fd at all times.
360
361While nominally embeddeble in other event loops, this feature is broken in
362all kernel versions tested so far.
363
364=item C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE> (value 8, most BSD clones)
365
366Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it
367was broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work reliably
368with anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course
369it's completely useless). For this reason it's not being "autodetected"
370unless you explicitly specify it explicitly in the flags (i.e. using
371C<EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>) or libev was compiled on a known-to-be-good (-enough)
372system like NetBSD.
373
374You still can embed kqueue into a normal poll or select backend and use it
375only for sockets (after having made sure that sockets work with kqueue on
376the target platform). See C<ev_embed> watchers for more info.
377
378It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the
379kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of
380course). While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher does never
381cause an extra syscall as with C<EVBACKEND_EPOLL>, it still adds up to
382two event changes per incident, support for C<fork ()> is very bad and it
383drops fds silently in similarly hard-to-detect cases.
384
385This backend usually performs well under most conditions.
386
387While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this doesn't work
388everywhere, so you might need to test for this. And since it is broken
389almost everywhere, you should only use it when you have a lot of sockets
390(for which it usually works), by embedding it into another event loop
391(e.g. C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>) and using it only for
392sockets.
393
394=item C<EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL> (value 16, Solaris 8)
395
396This is not implemented yet (and might never be, unless you send me an
397implementation). According to reports, C</dev/poll> only supports sockets
398and is not embeddable, which would limit the usefulness of this backend
399immensely.
400
401=item C<EVBACKEND_PORT> (value 32, Solaris 10)
402
403This uses the Solaris 10 event port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,
404it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).
405
406Please note that solaris event ports can deliver a lot of spurious
407notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid
408blocking when no data (or space) is available.
409
410While this backend scales well, it requires one system call per active
411file descriptor per loop iteration. For small and medium numbers of file
412descriptors a "slow" C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL> backend
413might perform better.
414
415On the positive side, ignoring the spurious readyness notifications, this
416backend actually performed to specification in all tests and is fully
417embeddable, which is a rare feat among the OS-specific backends.
418
419=item C<EVBACKEND_ALL>
420
421Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried
422with C<EVFLAG_AUTO>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as
423C<EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE>.
424
425It is definitely not recommended to use this flag.
426
427=back
154 428
155If one or more of these are ored into the flags value, then only these 429If one or more of these are ored into the flags value, then only these
156backends will be tried (in the reverse order as given here). If one are 430backends will be tried (in the reverse order as listed here). If none are
157specified, any backend will do. 431specified, all backends in C<ev_recommended_backends ()> will be tried.
158 432
159=back 433The most typical usage is like this:
434
435 if (!ev_default_loop (0))
436 fatal ("could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?");
437
438Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow
439environment settings to be taken into account:
440
441 ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);
442
443Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is used if
444available (warning, breaks stuff, best use only with your own private
445event loop and only if you know the OS supports your types of fds):
446
447 ev_default_loop (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);
160 448
161=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags) 449=item struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)
162 450
163Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is 451Similar to C<ev_default_loop>, but always creates a new event loop that is
164always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot 452always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot
165handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by 453handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
166undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled). 454undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).
167 455
456Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.
457
458 struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
459 if (!epoller)
460 fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");
461
168=item ev_default_destroy () 462=item ev_default_destroy ()
169 463
170Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state 464Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state
171etc.). This stops all registered event watchers (by not touching them in 465etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal
172any way whatsoever, although you cnanot rely on this :). 466sense, so e.g. C<ev_is_active> might still return true. It is your
467responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yoursef I<before>
468calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually
469the easiest thing, you can just ignore the watchers and/or C<free ()> them
470for example).
471
472Note that certain global state, such as signal state, will not be freed by
473this function, and related watchers (such as signal and child watchers)
474would need to be stopped manually.
475
476In general it is not advisable to call this function except in the
477rare occasion where you really need to free e.g. the signal handling
478pipe fds. If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use
479C<ev_loop_new> and C<ev_loop_destroy>).
173 480
174=item ev_loop_destroy (loop) 481=item ev_loop_destroy (loop)
175 482
176Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an 483Like C<ev_default_destroy>, but destroys an event loop created by an
177earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>. 484earlier call to C<ev_loop_new>.
178 485
179=item ev_default_fork () 486=item ev_default_fork ()
180 487
488This function sets a flag that causes subsequent C<ev_loop> iterations
181This function reinitialises the kernel state for backends that have 489to reinitialise the kernel state for backends that have one. Despite the
182one. Despite the name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense 490name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense after forking, in
183after forking, in either the parent or child process (or both, but that 491the child process (or both child and parent, but that again makes little
184again makes little sense). 492sense). You I<must> call it in the child before using any of the libev
493functions, and it will only take effect at the next C<ev_loop> iteration.
185 494
186You I<must> call this function after forking if and only if you want to 495On the other hand, you only need to call this function in the child
187use the event library in both processes. If you just fork+exec, you don't 496process if and only if you want to use the event library in the child. If
188have to call it. 497you just fork+exec, you don't have to call it at all.
189 498
190The function itself is quite fast and its usually not a problem to call 499The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call
191it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in 500it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in
192quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>: 501quite nicely into a call to C<pthread_atfork>:
193 502
194 pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork); 503 pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork);
195 504
197 506
198Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by 507Like C<ev_default_fork>, but acts on an event loop created by
199C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop 508C<ev_loop_new>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
200after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem. 509after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.
201 510
511=item unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)
512
513Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to
514the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at C<0> and
515happily wraps around with enough iterations.
516
517This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it
518"ticks" the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with
519C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> calls.
520
202=item unsigned int ev_method (loop) 521=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)
203 522
204Returns one of the C<EVMETHOD_*> flags indicating the event backend in 523Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in
205use. 524use.
206 525
207=item ev_tstamp = ev_now (loop) 526=item ev_tstamp ev_now (loop)
208 527
209Returns the current "event loop time", which is the time the event loop 528Returns the current "event loop time", which is the time the event loop
210got events and started processing them. This timestamp does not change 529received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not
211as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base time 530change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base
212used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the event 531time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the
213occuring (or more correctly, the mainloop finding out about it). 532event occurring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).
214 533
215=item ev_loop (loop, int flags) 534=item ev_loop (loop, int flags)
216 535
217Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called 536Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called
218after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling 537after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling
219events. 538events.
220 539
221If the flags argument is specified as 0, it will not return until either 540If the flags argument is specified as C<0>, it will not return until
222no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_unloop> was called. 541either no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_unloop> was called.
542
543Please note that an explicit C<ev_unloop> is usually better than
544relying on all watchers to be stopped when deciding when a program has
545finished (especially in interactive programs), but having a program that
546automatically loops as long as it has to and no longer by virtue of
547relying on its watchers stopping correctly is a thing of beauty.
223 548
224A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle 549A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle
225those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in 550those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in
226case there are no events. 551case there are no events and will return after one iteration of the loop.
227 552
228A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if 553A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if
229neccessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block 554neccessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block
230your process until at least one new event arrives. 555your process until at least one new event arrives, and will return after
556one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some
557external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other
558libev watchers. However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is
559usually a better approach for this kind of thing.
231 560
232This flags value could be used to implement alternative looping 561Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does:
233constructs, but the C<prepare> and C<check> watchers provide a better and 562
234more generic mechanism. 563 - Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
564 * If EVFLAG_FORKCHECK was used, check for a fork.
565 - If a fork was detected, queue and call all fork watchers.
566 - Queue and call all prepare watchers.
567 - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.
568 - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
569 - Update the "event loop time".
570 - Calculate for how long to sleep or block, if at all
571 (active idle watchers, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK or not having
572 any active watchers at all will result in not sleeping).
573 - Sleep if the I/O and timer collect interval say so.
574 - Block the process, waiting for any events.
575 - Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.
576 - Update the "event loop time" and do time jump handling.
577 - Queue all outstanding timers.
578 - Queue all outstanding periodics.
579 - If no events are pending now, queue all idle watchers.
580 - Queue all check watchers.
581 - Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).
582 Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will
583 be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
584 - If ev_unloop has been called, or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK
585 were used, or there are no active watchers, return, otherwise
586 continue with step *.
587
588Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outstanding
589anymore.
590
591 ... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
592 ... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
593 ev_loop (my_loop, 0);
594 ... jobs done. yeah!
235 595
236=item ev_unloop (loop, how) 596=item ev_unloop (loop, how)
237 597
238Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early. The C<how> argument 598Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early (but only after it
599has processed all outstanding events). The C<how> argument must be either
239must be either C<EVUNLOOP_ONCE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_loop> 600C<EVUNLOOP_ONE>, which will make the innermost C<ev_loop> call return, or
240call return, or C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> 601C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> calls return.
241calls return. 602
603This "unloop state" will be cleared when entering C<ev_loop> again.
242 604
243=item ev_ref (loop) 605=item ev_ref (loop)
244 606
245=item ev_unref (loop) 607=item ev_unref (loop)
246 608
247Ref/unref can be used to add or remove a refcount on the event loop: Every 609Ref/unref can be used to add or remove a reference count on the event
248watcher keeps one reference. If you have a long-runing watcher you never 610loop: Every watcher keeps one reference, and as long as the reference
249unregister that should not keep ev_loop from running, ev_unref() after 611count is nonzero, C<ev_loop> will not return on its own. If you have
250starting, and ev_ref() before stopping it. Libev itself uses this for 612a watcher you never unregister that should not keep C<ev_loop> from
251example for its internal signal pipe: It is not visible to you as a user 613returning, ev_unref() after starting, and ev_ref() before stopping it. For
252and should not keep C<ev_loop> from exiting if the work is done. It is 614example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not
253also an excellent way to do this for generic recurring timers or from 615visible to the libev user and should not keep C<ev_loop> from exiting if
254within third-party libraries. Just remember to unref after start and ref 616no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent
255before stop. 617way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party
618libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref before stop>
619(but only if the watcher wasn't active before, or was active before,
620respectively).
621
622Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_loop>
623running when nothing else is active.
624
625 struct ev_signal exitsig;
626 ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
627 ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);
628 evf_unref (loop);
629
630Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.
631
632 ev_ref (loop);
633 ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);
634
635=item ev_set_io_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
636
637=item ev_set_timeout_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
638
639These advanced functions influence the time that libev will spend waiting
640for events. Both are by default C<0>, meaning that libev will try to
641invoke timer/periodic callbacks and I/O callbacks with minimum latency.
642
643Setting these to a higher value (the C<interval> I<must> be >= C<0>)
644allows libev to delay invocation of I/O and timer/periodic callbacks to
645increase efficiency of loop iterations.
646
647The background is that sometimes your program runs just fast enough to
648handle one (or very few) event(s) per loop iteration. While this makes
649the program responsive, it also wastes a lot of CPU time to poll for new
650events, especially with backends like C<select ()> which have a high
651overhead for the actual polling but can deliver many events at once.
652
653By setting a higher I<io collect interval> you allow libev to spend more
654time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration,
655at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both C<ev_periodic> and
656C<ev_timer>) will be not affected. Setting this to a non-null value will
657introduce an additional C<ev_sleep ()> call into most loop iterations.
658
659Likewise, by setting a higher I<timeout collect interval> you allow libev
660to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased
661latency (the watcher callback will be called later). C<ev_io> watchers
662will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null value will not introduce
663any overhead in libev.
664
665Many (busy) programs can usually benefit by setting the io collect
666interval to a value near C<0.1> or so, which is often enough for
667interactive servers (of course not for games), likewise for timeouts. It
668usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than C<0.01>,
669as this approsaches the timing granularity of most systems.
256 670
257=back 671=back
672
258 673
259=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER 674=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER
260 675
261A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your 676A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your
262interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to 677interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to
263become readable, you would create an ev_io watcher for that: 678become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher for that:
264 679
265 static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents) 680 static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
266 { 681 {
267 ev_io_stop (w); 682 ev_io_stop (w);
268 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL); 683 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
295*) >>), and you can stop watching for events at any time by calling the 710*) >>), and you can stop watching for events at any time by calling the
296corresponding stop function (C<< ev_<type>_stop (loop, watcher *) >>. 711corresponding stop function (C<< ev_<type>_stop (loop, watcher *) >>.
297 712
298As long as your watcher is active (has been started but not stopped) you 713As long as your watcher is active (has been started but not stopped) you
299must not touch the values stored in it. Most specifically you must never 714must not touch the values stored in it. Most specifically you must never
300reinitialise it or call its set method. 715reinitialise it or call its C<set> macro.
301
302You cna check whether an event is active by calling the C<ev_is_active
303(watcher *)> macro. To see whether an event is outstanding (but the
304callback for it has not been called yet) you cna use the C<ev_is_pending
305(watcher *)> macro.
306 716
307Each and every callback receives the event loop pointer as first, the 717Each and every callback receives the event loop pointer as first, the
308registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as 718registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as
309third argument. 719third argument.
310 720
311The rceeived events usually include a single bit per event type received 721The received events usually include a single bit per event type received
312(you can receive multiple events at the same time). The possible bit masks 722(you can receive multiple events at the same time). The possible bit masks
313are: 723are:
314 724
315=over 4 725=over 4
316 726
317=item EV_READ 727=item C<EV_READ>
318 728
319=item EV_WRITE 729=item C<EV_WRITE>
320 730
321The file descriptor in the ev_io watcher has become readable and/or 731The file descriptor in the C<ev_io> watcher has become readable and/or
322writable. 732writable.
323 733
324=item EV_TIMEOUT 734=item C<EV_TIMEOUT>
325 735
326The ev_timer watcher has timed out. 736The C<ev_timer> watcher has timed out.
327 737
328=item EV_PERIODIC 738=item C<EV_PERIODIC>
329 739
330The ev_periodic watcher has timed out. 740The C<ev_periodic> watcher has timed out.
331 741
332=item EV_SIGNAL 742=item C<EV_SIGNAL>
333 743
334The signal specified in the ev_signal watcher has been received by a thread. 744The signal specified in the C<ev_signal> watcher has been received by a thread.
335 745
336=item EV_CHILD 746=item C<EV_CHILD>
337 747
338The pid specified in the ev_child watcher has received a status change. 748The pid specified in the C<ev_child> watcher has received a status change.
339 749
750=item C<EV_STAT>
751
752The path specified in the C<ev_stat> watcher changed its attributes somehow.
753
340=item EV_IDLE 754=item C<EV_IDLE>
341 755
342The ev_idle watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do. 756The C<ev_idle> watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do.
343 757
344=item EV_PREPARE 758=item C<EV_PREPARE>
345 759
346=item EV_CHECK 760=item C<EV_CHECK>
347 761
348All ev_prepare watchers are invoked just I<before> C<ev_loop> starts 762All C<ev_prepare> watchers are invoked just I<before> C<ev_loop> starts
349to gather new events, and all ev_check watchers are invoked just after 763to gather new events, and all C<ev_check> watchers are invoked just after
350C<ev_loop> has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any 764C<ev_loop> has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any
351received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as 765received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as
352many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account 766many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account
353(for example, a ev_prepare watcher might start an idle watcher to keep 767(for example, a C<ev_prepare> watcher might start an idle watcher to keep
354C<ev_loop> from blocking). 768C<ev_loop> from blocking).
355 769
770=item C<EV_EMBED>
771
772The embedded event loop specified in the C<ev_embed> watcher needs attention.
773
774=item C<EV_FORK>
775
776The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
777C<ev_fork>).
778
779=item C<EV_ASYNC>
780
781The given async watcher has been asynchronously notified (see C<ev_async>).
782
356=item EV_ERROR 783=item C<EV_ERROR>
357 784
358An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might 785An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might
359happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev 786happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev
360ran out of memory, a file descriptor was found to be closed or any other 787ran out of memory, a file descriptor was found to be closed or any other
361problem. You best act on it by reporting the problem and somehow coping 788problem. You best act on it by reporting the problem and somehow coping
367with the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multithreaded 794with the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multithreaded
368programs, though, so beware. 795programs, though, so beware.
369 796
370=back 797=back
371 798
799=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS
800
801In the following description, C<TYPE> stands for the watcher type,
802e.g. C<timer> for C<ev_timer> watchers and C<io> for C<ev_io> watchers.
803
804=over 4
805
806=item C<ev_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
807
808This macro initialises the generic portion of a watcher. The contents
809of the watcher object can be arbitrary (so C<malloc> will do). Only
810the generic parts of the watcher are initialised, you I<need> to call
811the type-specific C<ev_TYPE_set> macro afterwards to initialise the
812type-specific parts. For each type there is also a C<ev_TYPE_init> macro
813which rolls both calls into one.
814
815You can reinitialise a watcher at any time as long as it has been stopped
816(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.
817
818The callback is always of type C<void (*)(ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,
819int revents)>.
820
821=item C<ev_TYPE_set> (ev_TYPE *, [args])
822
823This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to
824call C<ev_init> at least once before you call this macro, but you can
825call C<ev_TYPE_set> any number of times. You must not, however, call this
826macro on a watcher that is active (it can be pending, however, which is a
827difference to the C<ev_init> macro).
828
829Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments
830(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.
831
832=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])
833
834This convinience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro
835calls into a single call. This is the most convinient method to initialise
836a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.
837
838=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)
839
840Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive
841events. If the watcher is already active nothing will happen.
842
843=item C<ev_TYPE_stop> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)
844
845Stops the given watcher again (if active) and clears the pending
846status. It is possible that stopped watchers are pending (for example,
847non-repeating timers are being stopped when they become pending), but
848C<ev_TYPE_stop> ensures that the watcher is neither active nor pending. If
849you want to free or reuse the memory used by the watcher it is therefore a
850good idea to always call its C<ev_TYPE_stop> function.
851
852=item bool ev_is_active (ev_TYPE *watcher)
853
854Returns a true value iff the watcher is active (i.e. it has been started
855and not yet been stopped). As long as a watcher is active you must not modify
856it.
857
858=item bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)
859
860Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding
861events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher
862is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but
863C<ev_TYPE_set> is safe), you must not change its priority, and you must
864make sure the watcher is available to libev (e.g. you cannot C<free ()>
865it).
866
867=item callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)
868
869Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.
870
871=item ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
872
873Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
874(modulo threads).
875
876=item ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, priority)
877
878=item int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)
879
880Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small
881integer between C<EV_MAXPRI> (default: C<2>) and C<EV_MINPRI>
882(default: C<-2>). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked
883before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers
884from being executed (except for C<ev_idle> watchers).
885
886This means that priorities are I<only> used for ordering callback
887invocation after new events have been received. This is useful, for
888example, to reduce latency after idling, or more often, to bind two
889watchers on the same event and make sure one is called first.
890
891If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending
892you need to look at C<ev_idle> watchers, which provide this functionality.
893
894You I<must not> change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or
895pending.
896
897The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
898always C<0>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).
899
900Setting a priority outside the range of C<EV_MINPRI> to C<EV_MAXPRI> is
901fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might
902or might not have been adjusted to be within valid range.
903
904=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
905
906Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither
907C<loop> nor C<revents> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
908can deal with that fact.
909
910=item int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
911
912If the watcher is pending, this function returns clears its pending status
913and returns its C<revents> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
914watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>.
915
916=back
917
918
372=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER 919=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER
373 920
374Each watcher has, by default, a member C<void *data> that you can change 921Each watcher has, by default, a member C<void *data> that you can change
375and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This cna be used 922and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This can be used
376to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and 923to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
377don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data 924don't want to allocate memory and store a pointer to it in that data
378member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own 925member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own
379data: 926data:
380 927
393 { 940 {
394 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_; 941 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
395 ... 942 ...
396 } 943 }
397 944
398More interesting and less C-conformant ways of catsing your callback type 945More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type
399have been omitted.... 946instead have been omitted.
947
948Another common scenario is having some data structure with multiple
949watchers:
950
951 struct my_biggy
952 {
953 int some_data;
954 ev_timer t1;
955 ev_timer t2;
956 }
957
958In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more complicated,
959you need to use C<offsetof>:
960
961 #include <stddef.h>
962
963 static void
964 t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
965 {
966 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
967 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
968 }
969
970 static void
971 t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
972 {
973 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
974 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
975 }
400 976
401 977
402=head1 WATCHER TYPES 978=head1 WATCHER TYPES
403 979
404This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat 980This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat
405information given in the last section. 981information given in the last section. Any initialisation/set macros,
982functions and members specific to the watcher type are explained.
406 983
984Members are additionally marked with either I<[read-only]>, meaning that,
985while the watcher is active, you can look at the member and expect some
986sensible content, but you must not modify it (you can modify it while the
987watcher is stopped to your hearts content), or I<[read-write]>, which
988means you can expect it to have some sensible content while the watcher
989is active, but you can also modify it. Modifying it may not do something
990sensible or take immediate effect (or do anything at all), but libev will
991not crash or malfunction in any way.
992
993
407=head2 struct ev_io - is my file descriptor readable or writable 994=head2 C<ev_io> - is this file descriptor readable or writable?
408 995
409I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable 996I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable
410in each iteration of the event loop (This behaviour is called 997in each iteration of the event loop, or, more precisely, when reading
411level-triggering because you keep receiving events as long as the 998would not block the process and writing would at least be able to write
412condition persists. Remember you cna stop the watcher if you don't want to 999some data. This behaviour is called level-triggering because you keep
413act on the event and neither want to receive future events). 1000receiving events as long as the condition persists. Remember you can stop
1001the watcher if you don't want to act on the event and neither want to
1002receive future events.
414 1003
415In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers oer 1004In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per
416fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file 1005fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file
417descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not 1006descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
418required if you know what you are doing). 1007required if you know what you are doing).
419 1008
420You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends
421(the linux epoll backend is a notable example) cannot handle dup'ed file
422descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing
423to the same file/socket etc. description.
424
425If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend 1009If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend
426(at the time of this writing, this includes only EVMETHOD_SELECT and 1010(at the time of this writing, this includes only C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and
427EVMETHOD_POLL). 1011C<EVBACKEND_POLL>).
1012
1013Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
1014receive "spurious" readyness notifications, that is your callback might
1015be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block
1016because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a
1017lot of those (for example solaris ports), it is very easy to get into
1018this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus
1019it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning
1020C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.
1021
1022If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not
1023play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test
1024whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
1025such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on
1026its own, so its quite safe to use).
1027
1028=head3 The special problem of disappearing file descriptors
1029
1030Some backends (e.g. kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file
1031descriptor (either by calling C<close> explicitly or by any other means,
1032such as C<dup>). The reason is that you register interest in some file
1033descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop
1034this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is
1035registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in
1036fact, a different file descriptor.
1037
1038To avoid having to explicitly tell libev about such cases, libev follows
1039the following policy: Each time C<ev_io_set> is being called, libev
1040will assume that this is potentially a new file descriptor, otherwise
1041it is assumed that the file descriptor stays the same. That means that
1042you I<have> to call C<ev_io_set> (or C<ev_io_init>) when you change the
1043descriptor even if the file descriptor number itself did not change.
1044
1045This is how one would do it normally anyway, the important point is that
1046the libev application should not optimise around libev but should leave
1047optimisations to libev.
1048
1049=head3 The special problem of dup'ed file descriptors
1050
1051Some backends (e.g. epoll), cannot register events for file descriptors,
1052but only events for the underlying file descriptions. That means when you
1053have C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors or weirder constellations, and register
1054events for them, only one file descriptor might actually receive events.
1055
1056There is no workaround possible except not registering events
1057for potentially C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors, or to resort to
1058C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1059
1060=head3 The special problem of fork
1061
1062Some backends (epoll, kqueue) do not support C<fork ()> at all or exhibit
1063useless behaviour. Libev fully supports fork, but needs to be told about
1064it in the child.
1065
1066To support fork in your programs, you either have to call
1067C<ev_default_fork ()> or C<ev_loop_fork ()> after a fork in the child,
1068enable C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>, or resort to C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or
1069C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1070
1071
1072=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions
428 1073
429=over 4 1074=over 4
430 1075
431=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events) 1076=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)
432 1077
433=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events) 1078=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)
434 1079
435Configures an ev_io watcher. The fd is the file descriptor to rceeive 1080Configures an C<ev_io> watcher. The C<fd> is the file descriptor to
436events for and events is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_READ | 1081rceeive events for and events is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or
437EV_WRITE> to receive the given events. 1082C<EV_READ | EV_WRITE> to receive the given events.
1083
1084=item int fd [read-only]
1085
1086The file descriptor being watched.
1087
1088=item int events [read-only]
1089
1090The events being watched.
438 1091
439=back 1092=back
440 1093
1094=head3 Examples
1095
1096Example: Call C<stdin_readable_cb> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well
1097readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could
1098attempt to read a whole line in the callback.
1099
1100 static void
1101 stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
1102 {
1103 ev_io_stop (loop, w);
1104 .. read from stdin here (or from w->fd) and haqndle any I/O errors
1105 }
1106
1107 ...
1108 struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
1109 struct ev_io stdin_readable;
1110 ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
1111 ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);
1112 ev_loop (loop, 0);
1113
1114
441=head2 struct ev_timer - relative and optionally recurring timeouts 1115=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts
442 1116
443Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a 1117Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a
444given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that. 1118given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.
445 1119
446The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that 1120The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that
447times out after an hour and youreset your system clock to last years 1121times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to last years
448time, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. "Roughly" because 1122time, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. "Roughly" because
449detecting time jumps is hard, and soem inaccuracies are unavoidable (the 1123detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the
450monotonic clock option helps a lot here). 1124monotonic clock option helps a lot here).
1125
1126The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>
1127time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time
1128of the event triggering whatever timeout you are modifying/starting. If
1129you suspect event processing to be delayed and you I<need> to base the timeout
1130on the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:
1131
1132 ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);
1133
1134The callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when its timeout has passed,
1135but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then
1136order of execution is undefined.
1137
1138=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
451 1139
452=over 4 1140=over 4
453 1141
454=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat) 1142=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)
455 1143
461later, again, and again, until stopped manually. 1149later, again, and again, until stopped manually.
462 1150
463The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if you 1151The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if you
464configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will trigger at 1152configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will trigger at
465exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot keep up with 1153exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot keep up with
466the timer (ecause it takes longer than those 10 seconds to do stuff) the 1154the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to do stuff) the
467timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration. 1155timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.
468 1156
469=item ev_timer_again (loop) 1157=item ev_timer_again (loop)
470 1158
471This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is 1159This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
472repeating. The exact semantics are: 1160repeating. The exact semantics are:
473 1161
1162If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.
1163
474If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it. 1164If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it (as if it timed out).
475 1165
476If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the repeat 1166If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the
477value), or reset the running timer to the repeat value. 1167C<repeat> value), or reset the running timer to the C<repeat> value.
478 1168
479This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical 1169This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical
480example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle 1170example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle
481timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60 1171timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60
482seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to 1172seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to
483configure an ev_timer with after=repeat=60 and calling ev_timer_again each 1173configure an C<ev_timer> with a C<repeat> value of C<60> and then call
484time you successfully read or write some data. If you go into an idle 1174C<ev_timer_again> each time you successfully read or write some data. If
485state where you do not expect data to travel on the socket, you can stop 1175you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the
486the timer, and again will automatically restart it if need be. 1176socket, you can C<ev_timer_stop> the timer, and C<ev_timer_again> will
1177automatically restart it if need be.
1178
1179That means you can ignore the C<after> value and C<ev_timer_start>
1180altogether and only ever use the C<repeat> value and C<ev_timer_again>:
1181
1182 ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);
1183 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1184 ...
1185 timer->again = 17.;
1186 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1187 ...
1188 timer->again = 10.;
1189 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1190
1191This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time
1192you want to modify its timeout value.
1193
1194=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]
1195
1196The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
1197or C<ev_timer_again> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),
1198which is also when any modifications are taken into account.
487 1199
488=back 1200=back
489 1201
1202=head3 Examples
1203
1204Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.
1205
1206 static void
1207 one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
1208 {
1209 .. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here
1210 }
1211
1212 struct ev_timer mytimer;
1213 ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);
1214 ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);
1215
1216Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
1217inactivity.
1218
1219 static void
1220 timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
1221 {
1222 .. ten seconds without any activity
1223 }
1224
1225 struct ev_timer mytimer;
1226 ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */
1227 ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */
1228 ev_loop (loop, 0);
1229
1230 // and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":
1231 // reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds
1232 ev_timer_again (&mytimer);
1233
1234
490=head2 ev_periodic - to cron or not to cron it 1235=head2 C<ev_periodic> - to cron or not to cron?
491 1236
492Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile 1237Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile
493(and unfortunately a bit complex). 1238(and unfortunately a bit complex).
494 1239
495Unlike ev_timer's, they are not based on real time (or relative time) 1240Unlike C<ev_timer>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time)
496but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher 1241but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher
497to trigger "at" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a 1242to trigger "at" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a
498periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. c<ev_now () 1243periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. C<ev_now ()
499+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will 1244+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will
500take a year to trigger the event (unlike an ev_timer, which would trigger 1245take a year to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would trigger
501roughly 10 seconds later and of course not if you reset your system time 1246roughly 10 seconds later).
502again).
503 1247
504They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as 1248They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as
505triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time. 1249triggering an event on each midnight, local time or other, complicated,
1250rules.
1251
1252As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the
1253time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
1254during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.
1255
1256=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
506 1257
507=over 4 1258=over 4
508 1259
509=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb) 1260=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)
510 1261
511=item ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb) 1262=item ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)
512 1263
513Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of 1264Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of
514operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex: 1265operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:
515 1266
516
517=over 4 1267=over 4
518 1268
519=item * absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0) 1269=item * absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)
520 1270
521In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time 1271In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time
522C<at> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs, 1272C<at> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs,
523that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the 1273that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the
524system time reaches or surpasses this time. 1274system time reaches or surpasses this time.
525 1275
526=item * non-repeating interval timer (interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0) 1276=item * non-repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)
527 1277
528In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next 1278In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next
529C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N) and then repeat, regardless 1279C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)
530of any time jumps. 1280and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps.
531 1281
532This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system 1282This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system
533time: 1283time:
534 1284
535 ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0); 1285 ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);
536 1286
537This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers, 1287This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers,
538but only that the the callback will be called when the system time shows a 1288but only that the the callback will be called when the system time shows a
539full hour (UTC), or more correct, when the system time is evenly divisible 1289full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible
540by 3600. 1290by 3600.
541 1291
542Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that 1292Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
543ev_periodic will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible 1293C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
544time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps. 1294time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.
545 1295
1296For numerical stability it is preferable that the C<at> value is near
1297C<ev_now ()> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
1298this value.
1299
546=item * manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback) 1300=item * manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)
547 1301
548In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being 1302In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being
549ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the 1303ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
550reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the 1304reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
551current time as second argument. 1305current time as second argument.
552 1306
553NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy the periodic or any other 1307NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,
554periodic watcher, ever, or make any event loop modificstions>. If you need 1308ever, or make any event loop modifications>. If you need to stop it,
555to stop it, return 1e30 (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards. 1309return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
1310starting an C<ev_prepare> watcher, which is legal).
556 1311
557Its prototype is c<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, 1312Its prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,
558ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.: 1313ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:
559 1314
560 static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) 1315 static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
561 { 1316 {
562 return now + 60.; 1317 return now + 60.;
565It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value 1320It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value
566(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It 1321(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It
567will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but 1322will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but
568might be called at other times, too. 1323might be called at other times, too.
569 1324
1325NOTE: I<< This callback must always return a time that is later than the
1326passed C<now> value >>. Not even C<now> itself will do, it I<must> be larger.
1327
570This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that 1328This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that
571triggers on each midnight, local time. To do this, you would calculate the 1329triggers on each midnight, local time. To do this, you would calculate the
572next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How you do this 1330next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How
573is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial). 1331you do this is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial, which is the main
1332reason I omitted it as an example).
574 1333
575=back 1334=back
576 1335
577=item ev_periodic_again (loop, ev_periodic *) 1336=item ev_periodic_again (loop, ev_periodic *)
578 1337
579Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful 1338Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
580when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return 1339when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return
581a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like 1340a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
582program when the crontabs have changed). 1341program when the crontabs have changed).
583 1342
1343=item ev_tstamp offset [read-write]
1344
1345When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
1346absolute point in time (the C<at> value passed to C<ev_periodic_set>).
1347
1348Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
1349timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1350
1351=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]
1352
1353The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1354take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being
1355called.
1356
1357=item ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read-write]
1358
1359The current reschedule callback, or C<0>, if this functionality is
1360switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
1361the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1362
1363=item ev_tstamp at [read-only]
1364
1365When active, contains the absolute time that the watcher is supposed to
1366trigger next.
1367
584=back 1368=back
585 1369
1370=head3 Examples
1371
1372Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
1373system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
1374potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.
1375
1376 static void
1377 clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
1378 {
1379 ... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)
1380 }
1381
1382 struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1383 ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);
1384 ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1385
1386Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:
1387
1388 #include <math.h>
1389
1390 static ev_tstamp
1391 my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1392 {
1393 return fmod (now, 3600.) + 3600.;
1394 }
1395
1396 ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);
1397
1398Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:
1399
1400 struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1401 ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,
1402 fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);
1403 ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1404
1405
586=head2 ev_signal - signal me when a signal gets signalled 1406=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!
587 1407
588Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific 1408Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
589signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev 1409signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev
590will try its best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the 1410will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the
591normal event processing, like any other event. 1411normal event processing, like any other event.
592 1412
593You cna configure as many watchers as you like per signal. Only when the 1413You can configure as many watchers as you like per signal. Only when the
594first watcher gets started will libev actually register a signal watcher 1414first watcher gets started will libev actually register a signal watcher
595with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long 1415with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long
596as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal 1416as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal
597watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to 1417watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to
598SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before). 1418SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before).
599 1419
1420=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1421
600=over 4 1422=over 4
601 1423
602=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum) 1424=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)
603 1425
604=item ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum) 1426=item ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)
605 1427
606Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one 1428Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one
607of the C<SIGxxx> constants). 1429of the C<SIGxxx> constants).
608 1430
1431=item int signum [read-only]
1432
1433The signal the watcher watches out for.
1434
609=back 1435=back
610 1436
1437
611=head2 ev_child - wait for pid status changes 1438=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes
612 1439
613Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to 1440Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to
614some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies). 1441some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).
615 1442
1443=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1444
616=over 4 1445=over 4
617 1446
618=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid) 1447=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid, int trace)
619 1448
620=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid) 1449=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid, int trace)
621 1450
622Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or 1451Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or
623I<any> process if C<pid> is specified as C<0>). The callback can look 1452I<any> process if C<pid> is specified as C<0>). The callback can look
624at the C<rstatus> member of the C<ev_child> watcher structure to see 1453at the C<rstatus> member of the C<ev_child> watcher structure to see
625the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h>). The C<rpid> member 1454the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h> and see your systems
626contains the pid of the process causing the status change. 1455C<waitpid> documentation). The C<rpid> member contains the pid of the
1456process causing the status change. C<trace> must be either C<0> (only
1457activate the watcher when the process terminates) or C<1> (additionally
1458activate the watcher when the process is stopped or continued).
1459
1460=item int pid [read-only]
1461
1462The process id this watcher watches out for, or C<0>, meaning any process id.
1463
1464=item int rpid [read-write]
1465
1466The process id that detected a status change.
1467
1468=item int rstatus [read-write]
1469
1470The process exit/trace status caused by C<rpid> (see your systems
1471C<waitpid> and C<sys/wait.h> documentation for details).
627 1472
628=back 1473=back
629 1474
1475=head3 Examples
1476
1477Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.
1478
1479 static void
1480 sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)
1481 {
1482 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
1483 }
1484
1485 struct ev_signal signal_watcher;
1486 ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);
1487 ev_signal_start (loop, &sigint_cb);
1488
1489
1490=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?
1491
1492This watches a filesystem path for attribute changes. That is, it calls
1493C<stat> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed
1494compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.
1495
1496The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does
1497not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does
1498not exist" is signified by the C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is
1499otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of
1500the stat buffer having unspecified contents.
1501
1502The path I<should> be absolute and I<must not> end in a slash. If it is
1503relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.
1504
1505Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply
1506calls C<stat (2)> regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You
1507can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify
1508a polling interval of C<0> (highly recommended!) then a I<suitable,
1509unspecified default> value will be used (which you can expect to be around
1510five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also
1511impose a minimum interval which is currently around C<0.1>, but thats
1512usually overkill.
1513
1514This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,
1515as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be
1516resource-intensive.
1517
1518At the time of this writing, only the Linux inotify interface is
1519implemented (implementing kqueue support is left as an exercise for the
1520reader). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should not change the
1521semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers, which means that libev sometimes needs
1522to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify, but changes are
1523usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there will be no
1524polling.
1525
1526=head3 Inotify
1527
1528When C<inotify (7)> support has been compiled into libev (generally only
1529available on Linux) and present at runtime, it will be used to speed up
1530change detection where possible. The inotify descriptor will be created lazily
1531when the first C<ev_stat> watcher is being started.
1532
1533Inotify presense does not change the semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers
1534except that changes might be detected earlier, and in some cases, to avoid
1535making regular C<stat> calls. Even in the presense of inotify support
1536there are many cases where libev has to resort to regular C<stat> polling.
1537
1538(There is no support for kqueue, as apparently it cannot be used to
1539implement this functionality, due to the requirement of having a file
1540descriptor open on the object at all times).
1541
1542=head3 The special problem of stat time resolution
1543
1544The C<stat ()> syscall only supports full-second resolution portably, and
1545even on systems where the resolution is higher, many filesystems still
1546only support whole seconds.
1547
1548That means that, if the time is the only thing that changes, you might
1549miss updates: on the first update, C<ev_stat> detects a change and calls
1550your callback, which does something. When there is another update within
1551the same second, C<ev_stat> will be unable to detect it.
1552
1553The solution to this is to delay acting on a change for a second (or till
1554the next second boundary), using a roughly one-second delay C<ev_timer>
1555(C<ev_timer_set (w, 0., 1.01); ev_timer_again (loop, w)>). The C<.01>
1556is added to work around small timing inconsistencies of some operating
1557systems.
1558
1559=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1560
1561=over 4
1562
1563=item ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)
1564
1565=item ev_stat_set (ev_stat *, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)
1566
1567Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of the given
1568C<path>. The C<interval> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to
1569be detected and should normally be specified as C<0> to let libev choose
1570a suitable value. The memory pointed to by C<path> must point to the same
1571path for as long as the watcher is active.
1572
1573The callback will be receive C<EV_STAT> when a change was detected,
1574relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the
1575last change was detected).
1576
1577=item ev_stat_stat (ev_stat *)
1578
1579Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the
1580watched path in your callback, you could call this fucntion to avoid
1581detecting this change (while introducing a race condition). Can also be
1582useful simply to find out the new values.
1583
1584=item ev_statdata attr [read-only]
1585
1586The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is of
1587C<ev_statdata>, this is usually the (or one of the) C<struct stat> types
1588suitable for your system. If the C<st_nlink> member is C<0>, then there
1589was some error while C<stat>ing the file.
1590
1591=item ev_statdata prev [read-only]
1592
1593The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever
1594C<prev> != C<attr>.
1595
1596=item ev_tstamp interval [read-only]
1597
1598The specified interval.
1599
1600=item const char *path [read-only]
1601
1602The filesystem path that is being watched.
1603
1604=back
1605
1606=head3 Examples
1607
1608Example: Watch C</etc/passwd> for attribute changes.
1609
1610 static void
1611 passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)
1612 {
1613 /* /etc/passwd changed in some way */
1614 if (w->attr.st_nlink)
1615 {
1616 printf ("passwd current size %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_size);
1617 printf ("passwd current atime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1618 printf ("passwd current mtime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1619 }
1620 else
1621 /* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */
1622 puts ("wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. "
1623 "if this is windows, they already arrived\n");
1624 }
1625
1626 ...
1627 ev_stat passwd;
1628
1629 ev_stat_init (&passwd, passwd_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);
1630 ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
1631
1632Example: Like above, but additionally use a one-second delay so we do not
1633miss updates (however, frequent updates will delay processing, too, so
1634one might do the work both on C<ev_stat> callback invocation I<and> on
1635C<ev_timer> callback invocation).
1636
1637 static ev_stat passwd;
1638 static ev_timer timer;
1639
1640 static void
1641 timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1642 {
1643 ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ w);
1644
1645 /* now it's one second after the most recent passwd change */
1646 }
1647
1648 static void
1649 stat_cb (EV_P_ ev_stat *w, int revents)
1650 {
1651 /* reset the one-second timer */
1652 ev_timer_again (EV_A_ &timer);
1653 }
1654
1655 ...
1656 ev_stat_init (&passwd, stat_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);
1657 ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
1658 ev_timer_init (&timer, timer_cb, 0., 1.01);
1659
1660
630=head2 ev_idle - when you've got nothing better to do 1661=head2 C<ev_idle> - when you've got nothing better to do...
631 1662
632Idle watchers trigger events when there are no other I/O or timer (or 1663Idle watchers trigger events when no other events of the same or higher
633periodic) events pending. That is, as long as your process is busy 1664priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not
634handling sockets or timeouts it will not be called. But when your process 1665count).
635is idle all idle watchers are being called again and again - until 1666
1667That is, as long as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts
1668(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be
1669triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers
1670are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop
636stopped, that is, or your process receives more events. 1671iteration - until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events
1672and becomes busy again with higher priority stuff.
637 1673
638The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are 1674The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are
639active, the process will not block when waiting for new events. 1675active, the process will not block when waiting for new events.
640 1676
641Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful 1677Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful
642effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do 1678effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do
643"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the 1679"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the
644event loop has handled all outstanding events. 1680event loop has handled all outstanding events.
645 1681
1682=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1683
646=over 4 1684=over 4
647 1685
648=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback) 1686=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)
649 1687
650Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any 1688Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any
651kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless, 1689kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
652believe me. 1690believe me.
653 1691
654=back 1692=back
655 1693
656=head2 prepare and check - your hooks into the event loop 1694=head3 Examples
657 1695
1696Example: Dynamically allocate an C<ev_idle> watcher, start it, and in the
1697callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.
1698
1699 static void
1700 idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)
1701 {
1702 free (w);
1703 // now do something you wanted to do when the program has
1704 // no longer anything immediate to do.
1705 }
1706
1707 struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle));
1708 ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);
1709 ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb);
1710
1711
1712=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!
1713
658Prepare and check watchers usually (but not always) are used in 1714Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:
659tandom. Prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check 1715prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers
660watchers afterwards. 1716afterwards.
661 1717
1718You I<must not> call C<ev_loop> or similar functions that enter
1719the current event loop from either C<ev_prepare> or C<ev_check>
1720watchers. Other loops than the current one are fine, however. The
1721rationale behind this is that you do not need to check for recursion in
1722those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be C<ev_prepare>, blocking,
1723C<ev_check> so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be
1724called in pairs bracketing the blocking call.
1725
662Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev. This 1726Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and
663could be used, for example, to track variable changes, implement your own 1727their use is somewhat advanced. This could be used, for example, to track
664watchers, integrate net-snmp or a coroutine library and lots more. 1728variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a
1729coroutine library and lots more. They are also occasionally useful if
1730you cache some data and want to flush it before blocking (for example,
1731in X programs you might want to do an C<XFlush ()> in an C<ev_prepare>
1732watcher).
665 1733
666This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need 1734This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need
667to be watched by the other library, registering ev_io watchers for them 1735to be watched by the other library, registering C<ev_io> watchers for
668and starting an ev_timer watcher for any timeouts (many libraries provide 1736them and starting an C<ev_timer> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries
669just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for any 1737provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for
670events that occured (by making your callbacks set soem flags for example) 1738any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers
671and call back into the library. 1739and stopping them) and call back into the library. The I/O and timer
1740callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid nevertheless,
1741because you never know, you know?).
672 1742
673As another example, the perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate 1743As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate
674coroutines into libev programs, by yielding to other active coroutines 1744coroutines into libev programs, by yielding to other active coroutines
675during each prepare and only letting the process block if no coroutines 1745during each prepare and only letting the process block if no coroutines
676are ready to run. 1746are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines
1747with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine
1748of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
1749loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
1750low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).
1751
1752It is recommended to give C<ev_check> watchers highest (C<EV_MAXPRI>)
1753priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers
1754after the poll. Also, C<ev_check> watchers (and C<ev_prepare> watchers,
1755too) should not activate ("feed") events into libev. While libev fully
1756supports this, they will be called before other C<ev_check> watchers
1757did their job. As C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other
1758(non-libev) event loops those other event loops might be in an unusable
1759state until their C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to
1760coexist peacefully with others).
1761
1762=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
677 1763
678=over 4 1764=over 4
679 1765
680=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback) 1766=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)
681 1767
682=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback) 1768=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)
683 1769
684Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no 1770Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no
685parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set> 1771parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set>
686macros, but using them is utterly, utterly pointless. 1772macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.
687 1773
688=back 1774=back
689 1775
1776=head3 Examples
1777
1778There are a number of principal ways to embed other event loops or modules
1779into libev. Here are some ideas on how to include libadns into libev
1780(there is a Perl module named C<EV::ADNS> that does this, which you could
1781use for an actually working example. Another Perl module named C<EV::Glib>
1782embeds a Glib main context into libev, and finally, C<Glib::EV> embeds EV
1783into the Glib event loop).
1784
1785Method 1: Add IO watchers and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler,
1786and in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows
1787is pseudo-code only of course. This requires you to either use a low
1788priority for the check watcher or use C<ev_clear_pending> explicitly, as
1789the callbacks for the IO/timeout watchers might not have been called yet.
1790
1791 static ev_io iow [nfd];
1792 static ev_timer tw;
1793
1794 static void
1795 io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
1796 {
1797 }
1798
1799 // create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
1800 static void
1801 adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
1802 {
1803 int timeout = 3600000;
1804 struct pollfd fds [nfd];
1805 // actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
1806 adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
1807
1808 /* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
1809 ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);
1810 ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);
1811
1812 // create one ev_io per pollfd
1813 for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1814 {
1815 ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,
1816 ((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)
1817 | (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));
1818
1819 fds [i].revents = 0;
1820 ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);
1821 }
1822 }
1823
1824 // stop all watchers after blocking
1825 static void
1826 adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)
1827 {
1828 ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);
1829
1830 for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1831 {
1832 // set the relevant poll flags
1833 // could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
1834 struct pollfd *fd = fds + i;
1835 int revents = ev_clear_pending (iow + i);
1836 if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
1837 if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
1838
1839 // now stop the watcher
1840 ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
1841 }
1842
1843 adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));
1844 }
1845
1846Method 2: This would be just like method 1, but you run C<adns_afterpoll>
1847in the prepare watcher and would dispose of the check watcher.
1848
1849Method 3: If the module to be embedded supports explicit event
1850notification (adns does), you can also make use of the actual watcher
1851callbacks, and only destroy/create the watchers in the prepare watcher.
1852
1853 static void
1854 timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1855 {
1856 adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
1857 update_now (EV_A);
1858
1859 adns_processtimeouts (ads, &tv_now);
1860 }
1861
1862 static void
1863 io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
1864 {
1865 adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
1866 update_now (EV_A);
1867
1868 if (revents & EV_READ ) adns_processreadable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
1869 if (revents & EV_WRITE) adns_processwriteable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
1870 }
1871
1872 // do not ever call adns_afterpoll
1873
1874Method 4: Do not use a prepare or check watcher because the module you
1875want to embed is too inflexible to support it. Instead, youc na override
1876their poll function. The drawback with this solution is that the main
1877loop is now no longer controllable by EV. The C<Glib::EV> module does
1878this.
1879
1880 static gint
1881 event_poll_func (GPollFD *fds, guint nfds, gint timeout)
1882 {
1883 int got_events = 0;
1884
1885 for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
1886 // create/start io watcher that sets the relevant bits in fds[n] and increment got_events
1887
1888 if (timeout >= 0)
1889 // create/start timer
1890
1891 // poll
1892 ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
1893
1894 // stop timer again
1895 if (timeout >= 0)
1896 ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &to);
1897
1898 // stop io watchers again - their callbacks should have set
1899 for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
1900 ev_io_stop (EV_A_ iow [n]);
1901
1902 return got_events;
1903 }
1904
1905
1906=head2 C<ev_embed> - when one backend isn't enough...
1907
1908This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop
1909into another (currently only C<ev_io> events are supported in the embedded
1910loop, other types of watchers might be handled in a delayed or incorrect
1911fashion and must not be used).
1912
1913There are primarily two reasons you would want that: work around bugs and
1914prioritise I/O.
1915
1916As an example for a bug workaround, the kqueue backend might only support
1917sockets on some platform, so it is unusable as generic backend, but you
1918still want to make use of it because you have many sockets and it scales
1919so nicely. In this case, you would create a kqueue-based loop and embed it
1920into your default loop (which might use e.g. poll). Overall operation will
1921be a bit slower because first libev has to poll and then call kevent, but
1922at least you can use both at what they are best.
1923
1924As for prioritising I/O: rarely you have the case where some fds have
1925to be watched and handled very quickly (with low latency), and even
1926priorities and idle watchers might have too much overhead. In this case
1927you would put all the high priority stuff in one loop and all the rest in
1928a second one, and embed the second one in the first.
1929
1930As long as the watcher is active, the callback will be invoked every time
1931there might be events pending in the embedded loop. The callback must then
1932call C<ev_embed_sweep (mainloop, watcher)> to make a single sweep and invoke
1933their callbacks (you could also start an idle watcher to give the embedded
1934loop strictly lower priority for example). You can also set the callback
1935to C<0>, in which case the embed watcher will automatically execute the
1936embedded loop sweep.
1937
1938As long as the watcher is started it will automatically handle events. The
1939callback will be invoked whenever some events have been handled. You can
1940set the callback to C<0> to avoid having to specify one if you are not
1941interested in that.
1942
1943Also, there have not currently been made special provisions for forking:
1944when you fork, you not only have to call C<ev_loop_fork> on both loops,
1945but you will also have to stop and restart any C<ev_embed> watchers
1946yourself.
1947
1948Unfortunately, not all backends are embeddable, only the ones returned by
1949C<ev_embeddable_backends> are, which, unfortunately, does not include any
1950portable one.
1951
1952So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared
1953that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around
1954this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to
1955create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything.
1956
1957=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1958
1959=over 4
1960
1961=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
1962
1963=item ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
1964
1965Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be
1966embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be
1967invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback
1968to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,
1969if you do not want thta, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).
1970
1971=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)
1972
1973Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works
1974similarly to C<ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)>, but in the most
1975apropriate way for embedded loops.
1976
1977=item struct ev_loop *other [read-only]
1978
1979The embedded event loop.
1980
1981=back
1982
1983=head3 Examples
1984
1985Example: Try to get an embeddable event loop and embed it into the default
1986event loop. If that is not possible, use the default loop. The default
1987loop is stored in C<loop_hi>, while the mebeddable loop is stored in
1988C<loop_lo> (which is C<loop_hi> in the acse no embeddable loop can be
1989used).
1990
1991 struct ev_loop *loop_hi = ev_default_init (0);
1992 struct ev_loop *loop_lo = 0;
1993 struct ev_embed embed;
1994
1995 // see if there is a chance of getting one that works
1996 // (remember that a flags value of 0 means autodetection)
1997 loop_lo = ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ()
1998 ? ev_loop_new (ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ())
1999 : 0;
2000
2001 // if we got one, then embed it, otherwise default to loop_hi
2002 if (loop_lo)
2003 {
2004 ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_lo);
2005 ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);
2006 }
2007 else
2008 loop_lo = loop_hi;
2009
2010Example: Check if kqueue is available but not recommended and create
2011a kqueue backend for use with sockets (which usually work with any
2012kqueue implementation). Store the kqueue/socket-only event loop in
2013C<loop_socket>. (One might optionally use C<EVFLAG_NOENV>, too).
2014
2015 struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
2016 struct ev_loop *loop_socket = 0;
2017 struct ev_embed embed;
2018
2019 if (ev_supported_backends () & ~ev_recommended_backends () & EVBACKEND_KQUEUE)
2020 if ((loop_socket = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_KQUEUE))
2021 {
2022 ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_socket);
2023 ev_embed_start (loop, &embed);
2024 }
2025
2026 if (!loop_socket)
2027 loop_socket = loop;
2028
2029 // now use loop_socket for all sockets, and loop for everything else
2030
2031
2032=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork
2033
2034Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because
2035whoever is a good citizen cared to tell libev about it by calling
2036C<ev_default_fork> or C<ev_loop_fork>). The invocation is done before the
2037event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,
2038and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling
2039C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork
2040handlers will be invoked, too, of course.
2041
2042=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2043
2044=over 4
2045
2046=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)
2047
2048Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
2049kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
2050believe me.
2051
2052=back
2053
2054
2055=head2 C<ev_async> - how to wake up another event loop
2056
2057In general, you cannot use an C<ev_loop> from multiple threads or other
2058asynchronous sources such as signal handlers (as opposed to multiple event
2059loops - those are of course safe to use in different threads).
2060
2061Sometimes, however, you need to wake up another event loop you do not
2062control, for example because it belongs to another thread. This is what
2063C<ev_async> watchers do: as long as the C<ev_async> watcher is active, you
2064can signal it by calling C<ev_async_send>, which is thread- and signal
2065safe.
2066
2067This functionality is very similar to C<ev_signal> watchers, as signals,
2068too, are asynchronous in nature, and signals, too, will be compressed
2069(i.e. the number of callback invocations may be less than the number of
2070C<ev_async_sent> calls).
2071
2072Unlike C<ev_signal> watchers, C<ev_async> works with any event loop, not
2073just the default loop.
2074
2075=head3 Queueing
2076
2077C<ev_async> does not support queueing of data in any way. The reason
2078is that the author does not know of a simple (or any) algorithm for a
2079multiple-writer-single-reader queue that works in all cases and doesn't
2080need elaborate support such as pthreads.
2081
2082That means that if you want to queue data, you have to provide your own
2083queue. And here is how you would implement locking:
2084
2085=over 4
2086
2087=item queueing from a signal handler context
2088
2089To implement race-free queueing, you simply add to the queue in the signal
2090handler but you block the signal handler in the watcher callback. Here is an example that does that for
2091some fictitiuous SIGUSR1 handler:
2092
2093 static ev_async mysig;
2094
2095 static void
2096 sigusr1_handler (void)
2097 {
2098 sometype data;
2099
2100 // no locking etc.
2101 queue_put (data);
2102 ev_async_send (DEFAULT_ &mysig);
2103 }
2104
2105 static void
2106 mysig_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
2107 {
2108 sometype data;
2109 sigset_t block, prev;
2110
2111 sigemptyset (&block);
2112 sigaddset (&block, SIGUSR1);
2113 sigprocmask (SIG_BLOCK, &block, &prev);
2114
2115 while (queue_get (&data))
2116 process (data);
2117
2118 if (sigismember (&prev, SIGUSR1)
2119 sigprocmask (SIG_UNBLOCK, &block, 0);
2120 }
2121
2122(Note: pthreads in theory requires you to use C<pthread_setmask>
2123instead of C<sigprocmask> when you use threads, but libev doesn't do it
2124either...).
2125
2126=item queueing from a thread context
2127
2128The strategy for threads is different, as you cannot (easily) block
2129threads but you can easily preempt them, so to queue safely you need to
2130emply a traditional mutex lock, such as in this pthread example:
2131
2132 static ev_async mysig;
2133 static pthread_mutex_t mymutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
2134
2135 static void
2136 otherthread (void)
2137 {
2138 // only need to lock the actual queueing operation
2139 pthread_mutex_lock (&mymutex);
2140 queue_put (data);
2141 pthread_mutex_unlock (&mymutex);
2142
2143 ev_async_send (DEFAULT_ &mysig);
2144 }
2145
2146 static void
2147 mysig_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
2148 {
2149 pthread_mutex_lock (&mymutex);
2150
2151 while (queue_get (&data))
2152 process (data);
2153
2154 pthread_mutex_unlock (&mymutex);
2155 }
2156
2157=back
2158
2159
2160=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2161
2162=over 4
2163
2164=item ev_async_init (ev_async *, callback)
2165
2166Initialises and configures the async watcher - it has no parameters of any
2167kind. There is a C<ev_asynd_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
2168believe me.
2169
2170=item ev_async_send (loop, ev_async *)
2171
2172Sends/signals/activates the given C<ev_async> watcher, that is, feeds
2173an C<EV_ASYNC> event on the watcher into the event loop. Unlike
2174C<ev_feed_event>, this call is safe to do in other threads, signal or
2175similar contexts (see the dicusssion of C<EV_ATOMIC_T> in the embedding
2176section below on what exactly this means).
2177
2178This call incurs the overhead of a syscall only once per loop iteration,
2179so while the overhead might be noticable, it doesn't apply to repeated
2180calls to C<ev_async_send>.
2181
2182=back
2183
2184
690=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS 2185=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS
691 2186
692There are some other fucntions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now. 2187There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.
693 2188
694=over 4 2189=over 4
695 2190
696=item ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback) 2191=item ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)
697 2192
698This function combines a simple timer and an I/O watcher, calls your 2193This function combines a simple timer and an I/O watcher, calls your
699callback on whichever event happens first and automatically stop both 2194callback on whichever event happens first and automatically stop both
700watchers. This is useful if you want to wait for a single event on an fd 2195watchers. This is useful if you want to wait for a single event on an fd
701or timeout without havign to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or 2196or timeout without having to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or
702more watchers yourself. 2197more watchers yourself.
703 2198
704If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events is 2199If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events
705ignored. Otherwise, an ev_io watcher for the given C<fd> and C<events> set 2200is being ignored. Otherwise, an C<ev_io> watcher for the given C<fd> and
706will be craeted and started. 2201C<events> set will be craeted and started.
707 2202
708If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be 2203If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be
709started. Otherwise an ev_timer watcher with after = C<timeout> (and repeat 2204started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and
710= 0) will be started. 2205repeat = 0) will be started. While C<0> is a valid timeout, it is of
2206dubious value.
711 2207
712The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and 2208The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and gets
713gets passed an events set (normally a combination of EV_ERROR, EV_READ, 2209passed an C<revents> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of
714EV_WRITE or EV_TIMEOUT) and the C<arg> value passed to C<ev_once>: 2210C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMEOUT>) and the C<arg>
2211value passed to C<ev_once>:
715 2212
716 static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg) 2213 static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)
717 { 2214 {
718 if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT) 2215 if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT)
719 /* doh, nothing entered */ 2216 /* doh, nothing entered */;
720 else if (revents & EV_READ) 2217 else if (revents & EV_READ)
721 /* stdin might have data for us, joy! */ 2218 /* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;
722 } 2219 }
723 2220
724 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READm 10., stdin_ready, 0); 2221 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);
725 2222
726=item ev_feed_event (loop, watcher, int events) 2223=item ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)
727 2224
728Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event 2225Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
729has happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an 2226had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
730initialised but not necessarily active event watcher). 2227initialised but not necessarily started event watcher).
731 2228
732=item ev_feed_fd_event (loop, int fd, int revents) 2229=item ev_feed_fd_event (ev_loop *, int fd, int revents)
733 2230
734Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected it. 2231Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
2232the given events it.
735 2233
736=item ev_feed_signal_event (loop, int signum) 2234=item ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)
737 2235
738Feed an event as if the given signal occured (loop must be the default loop!). 2236Feed an event as if the given signal occured (C<loop> must be the default
2237loop!).
739 2238
740=back 2239=back
741 2240
2241
2242=head1 LIBEVENT EMULATION
2243
2244Libev offers a compatibility emulation layer for libevent. It cannot
2245emulate the internals of libevent, so here are some usage hints:
2246
2247=over 4
2248
2249=item * Use it by including <event.h>, as usual.
2250
2251=item * The following members are fully supported: ev_base, ev_callback,
2252ev_arg, ev_fd, ev_res, ev_events.
2253
2254=item * Avoid using ev_flags and the EVLIST_*-macros, while it is
2255maintained by libev, it does not work exactly the same way as in libevent (consider
2256it a private API).
2257
2258=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities
2259will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there
2260is an ev_pri field.
2261
2262=item * Other members are not supported.
2263
2264=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
2265to use the libev header file and library.
2266
2267=back
2268
2269=head1 C++ SUPPORT
2270
2271Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow
2272you to use some convinience methods to start/stop watchers and also change
2273the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.
2274
2275To use it,
2276
2277 #include <ev++.h>
2278
2279This automatically includes F<ev.h> and puts all of its definitions (many
2280of them macros) into the global namespace. All C++ specific things are
2281put into the C<ev> namespace. It should support all the same embedding
2282options as F<ev.h>, most notably C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>.
2283
2284Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the C++
2285classes add (compared to plain C-style watchers) is the event loop pointer
2286that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if
2287you disable C<EV_MULTIPLICITY> when embedding libev).
2288
2289Currently, functions, and static and non-static member functions can be
2290used as callbacks. Other types should be easy to add as long as they only
2291need one additional pointer for context. If you need support for other
2292types of functors please contact the author (preferably after implementing
2293it).
2294
2295Here is a list of things available in the C<ev> namespace:
2296
2297=over 4
2298
2299=item C<ev::READ>, C<ev::WRITE> etc.
2300
2301These are just enum values with the same values as the C<EV_READ> etc.
2302macros from F<ev.h>.
2303
2304=item C<ev::tstamp>, C<ev::now>
2305
2306Aliases to the same types/functions as with the C<ev_> prefix.
2307
2308=item C<ev::io>, C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic>, C<ev::idle>, C<ev::sig> etc.
2309
2310For each C<ev_TYPE> watcher in F<ev.h> there is a corresponding class of
2311the same name in the C<ev> namespace, with the exception of C<ev_signal>
2312which is called C<ev::sig> to avoid clashes with the C<signal> macro
2313defines by many implementations.
2314
2315All of those classes have these methods:
2316
2317=over 4
2318
2319=item ev::TYPE::TYPE ()
2320
2321=item ev::TYPE::TYPE (struct ev_loop *)
2322
2323=item ev::TYPE::~TYPE
2324
2325The constructor (optionally) takes an event loop to associate the watcher
2326with. If it is omitted, it will use C<EV_DEFAULT>.
2327
2328The constructor calls C<ev_init> for you, which means you have to call the
2329C<set> method before starting it.
2330
2331It will not set a callback, however: You have to call the templated C<set>
2332method to set a callback before you can start the watcher.
2333
2334(The reason why you have to use a method is a limitation in C++ which does
2335not allow explicit template arguments for constructors).
2336
2337The destructor automatically stops the watcher if it is active.
2338
2339=item w->set<class, &class::method> (object *)
2340
2341This method sets the callback method to call. The method has to have a
2342signature of C<void (*)(ev_TYPE &, int)>, it receives the watcher as
2343first argument and the C<revents> as second. The object must be given as
2344parameter and is stored in the C<data> member of the watcher.
2345
2346This method synthesizes efficient thunking code to call your method from
2347the C callback that libev requires. If your compiler can inline your
2348callback (i.e. it is visible to it at the place of the C<set> call and
2349your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the
2350thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.
2351
2352Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation
2353
2354 struct myclass
2355 {
2356 void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
2357 }
2358
2359 myclass obj;
2360 ev::io iow;
2361 iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);
2362
2363=item w->set<function> (void *data = 0)
2364
2365Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as
2366callback. The optional C<data> argument will be stored in the watcher's
2367C<data> member and is free for you to use.
2368
2369The prototype of the C<function> must be C<void (*)(ev::TYPE &w, int)>.
2370
2371See the method-C<set> above for more details.
2372
2373Example:
2374
2375 static void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
2376 iow.set <io_cb> ();
2377
2378=item w->set (struct ev_loop *)
2379
2380Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only
2381do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).
2382
2383=item w->set ([args])
2384
2385Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set>, with the same args. Must be
2386called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets
2387automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this
2388method.
2389
2390=item w->start ()
2391
2392Starts the watcher. Note that there is no C<loop> argument, as the
2393constructor already stores the event loop.
2394
2395=item w->stop ()
2396
2397Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.
2398
2399=item w->again () (C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only)
2400
2401For C<ev::timer> and C<ev::periodic>, this invokes the corresponding
2402C<ev_TYPE_again> function.
2403
2404=item w->sweep () (C<ev::embed> only)
2405
2406Invokes C<ev_embed_sweep>.
2407
2408=item w->update () (C<ev::stat> only)
2409
2410Invokes C<ev_stat_stat>.
2411
2412=back
2413
2414=back
2415
2416Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in
2417the constructor.
2418
2419 class myclass
2420 {
2421 ev::io io; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);
2422 ev:idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);
2423
2424 myclass (int fd)
2425 {
2426 io .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb > (this);
2427 idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);
2428
2429 io.start (fd, ev::READ);
2430 }
2431 };
2432
2433
2434=head1 MACRO MAGIC
2435
2436Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundamantal
2437of which is C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines whether (most)
2438functions and callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument.
2439
2440To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
2441following macros are defined:
2442
2443=over 4
2444
2445=item C<EV_A>, C<EV_A_>
2446
2447This provides the loop I<argument> for functions, if one is required ("ev
2448loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,
2449C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:
2450
2451 ev_unref (EV_A);
2452 ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);
2453 ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
2454
2455It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,
2456which is often provided by the following macro.
2457
2458=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>
2459
2460This provides the loop I<parameter> for functions, if one is required ("ev
2461loop parameter"). The C<EV_P> form is used when this is the sole parameter,
2462C<EV_P_> is used when other parameters are following. Example:
2463
2464 // this is how ev_unref is being declared
2465 static void ev_unref (EV_P);
2466
2467 // this is how you can declare your typical callback
2468 static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2469
2470It declares a parameter C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *>, quite
2471suitable for use with C<EV_A>.
2472
2473=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>
2474
2475Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
2476loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").
2477
2478=back
2479
2480Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above
2481macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported
2482or not.
2483
2484 static void
2485 check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2486 {
2487 ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);
2488 }
2489
2490 ev_check check;
2491 ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);
2492 ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);
2493 ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
2494
2495=head1 EMBEDDING
2496
2497Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
2498applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
2499Game Server, the EV perl module, the GNU Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)
2500and rxvt-unicode.
2501
2502The goal is to enable you to just copy the necessary files into your
2503source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so
2504you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of
2505libev somewhere in your source tree).
2506
2507=head2 FILESETS
2508
2509Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files
2510in your app.
2511
2512=head3 CORE EVENT LOOP
2513
2514To include only the libev core (all the C<ev_*> functions), with manual
2515configuration (no autoconf):
2516
2517 #define EV_STANDALONE 1
2518 #include "ev.c"
2519
2520This will automatically include F<ev.h>, too, and should be done in a
2521single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use
2522it, do the same for F<ev.h> in all files wishing to use this API (best
2523done by writing a wrapper around F<ev.h> that you can include instead and
2524where you can put other configuration options):
2525
2526 #define EV_STANDALONE 1
2527 #include "ev.h"
2528
2529Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++
2530compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated
2531as a bug).
2532
2533You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory
2534in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):
2535
2536 ev.h
2537 ev.c
2538 ev_vars.h
2539 ev_wrap.h
2540
2541 ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only
2542
2543 ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)
2544 ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2545 ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2546 ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2547 ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2548
2549F<ev.c> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need
2550to compile this single file.
2551
2552=head3 LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API
2553
2554To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:
2555
2556 #include "event.c"
2557
2558in the file including F<ev.c>, and:
2559
2560 #include "event.h"
2561
2562in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes F<ev.h>.
2563
2564You need the following additional files for this:
2565
2566 event.h
2567 event.c
2568
2569=head3 AUTOCONF SUPPORT
2570
2571Instead of using C<EV_STANDALONE=1> and providing your config in
2572whatever way you want, you can also C<m4_include([libev.m4])> in your
2573F<configure.ac> and leave C<EV_STANDALONE> undefined. F<ev.c> will then
2574include F<config.h> and configure itself accordingly.
2575
2576For this of course you need the m4 file:
2577
2578 libev.m4
2579
2580=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS
2581
2582Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to define
2583before including any of its files. The default is not to build for multiplicity
2584and only include the select backend.
2585
2586=over 4
2587
2588=item EV_STANDALONE
2589
2590Must always be C<1> if you do not use autoconf configuration, which
2591keeps libev from including F<config.h>, and it also defines dummy
2592implementations for some libevent functions (such as logging, which is not
2593supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in
2594F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.
2595
2596=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC
2597
2598If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2599monotonic clock option at both compiletime and runtime. Otherwise no use
2600of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you
2601usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when
2602the functionality isn't available is safe, though, although you have
2603to make sure you link against any libraries where the C<clock_gettime>
2604function is hiding in (often F<-lrt>).
2605
2606=item EV_USE_REALTIME
2607
2608If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2609realtime clock option at compiletime (and assume its availability at
2610runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the realtime clock option will
2611be attempted. This effectively replaces C<gettimeofday> by C<clock_get
2612(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)> and will not normally affect correctness. See the
2613note about libraries in the description of C<EV_USE_MONOTONIC>, though.
2614
2615=item EV_USE_NANOSLEEP
2616
2617If defined to be C<1>, libev will assume that C<nanosleep ()> is available
2618and will use it for delays. Otherwise it will use C<select ()>.
2619
2620=item EV_USE_SELECT
2621
2622If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the
2623C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no
2624other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend
2625will not be compiled in.
2626
2627=item EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET
2628
2629If defined to C<1>, then the select backend will use the system C<fd_set>
2630structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing
2631C<NFDBITS> or C<fd_mask> definition or it misguesses the bitset layout on
2632exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some
2633low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only
2634allows 64 sockets). The C<FD_SETSIZE> macro, set before compilation, might
2635influence the size of the C<fd_set> used.
2636
2637=item EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET
2638
2639When defined to C<1>, the select backend will assume that
2640select/socket/connect etc. don't understand file descriptors but
2641wants osf handles on win32 (this is the case when the select to
2642be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
2643C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,
2644it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
2645on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.
2646
2647=item EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE
2648
2649If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> is enabled, then libev needs a way to map
2650file descriptors to socket handles. When not defining this symbol (the
2651default), then libev will call C<_get_osfhandle>, which is usually
2652correct. In some cases, programs use their own file descriptor management,
2653in which case they can provide this function to map fds to socket handles.
2654
2655=item EV_USE_POLL
2656
2657If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)
2658backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It
2659takes precedence over select.
2660
2661=item EV_USE_EPOLL
2662
2663If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux
2664C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2665otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the
2666preferred backend for GNU/Linux systems.
2667
2668=item EV_USE_KQUEUE
2669
2670If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style
2671C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,
2672otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2673backend for BSD and BSD-like systems, although on most BSDs kqueue only
2674supports some types of fds correctly (the only platform we found that
2675supports ptys for example was NetBSD), so kqueue might be compiled in, but
2676not be used unless explicitly requested. The best way to use it is to find
2677out whether kqueue supports your type of fd properly and use an embedded
2678kqueue loop.
2679
2680=item EV_USE_PORT
2681
2682If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Solaris
268310 port style backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2684otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2685backend for Solaris 10 systems.
2686
2687=item EV_USE_DEVPOLL
2688
2689reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.
2690
2691=item EV_USE_INOTIFY
2692
2693If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
2694interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will
2695be detected at runtime.
2696
2697=item EV_ATOMIC_T
2698
2699Libev requires an integer type (suitable for storing C<0> or C<1>) whose
2700access is atomic with respect to other threads or signal contexts. No such
2701type is easily found in the C language, so you can provide your own type
2702that you know is safe for your purposes. It is used both for signal handler "locking"
2703as well as for signal and thread safety in C<ev_async> watchers.
2704
2705In the absense of this define, libev will use C<sig_atomic_t volatile>
2706(from F<signal.h>), which is usually good enough on most platforms.
2707
2708=item EV_H
2709
2710The name of the F<ev.h> header file used to include it. The default if
2711undefined is C<"ev.h"> in F<event.h>, F<ev.c> and F<ev++.h>. This can be
2712used to virtually rename the F<ev.h> header file in case of conflicts.
2713
2714=item EV_CONFIG_H
2715
2716If C<EV_STANDALONE> isn't C<1>, this variable can be used to override
2717F<ev.c>'s idea of where to find the F<config.h> file, similarly to
2718C<EV_H>, above.
2719
2720=item EV_EVENT_H
2721
2722Similarly to C<EV_H>, this macro can be used to override F<event.c>'s idea
2723of how the F<event.h> header can be found, the default is C<"event.h">.
2724
2725=item EV_PROTOTYPES
2726
2727If defined to be C<0>, then F<ev.h> will not define any function
2728prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is
2729occasionally useful if you want to provide your own wrapper functions
2730around libev functions.
2731
2732=item EV_MULTIPLICITY
2733
2734If undefined or defined to C<1>, then all event-loop-specific functions
2735will have the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument, and you can create
2736additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support
2737for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer
2738argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.
2739
2740=item EV_MINPRI
2741
2742=item EV_MAXPRI
2743
2744The range of allowed priorities. C<EV_MINPRI> must be smaller or equal to
2745C<EV_MAXPRI>, but otherwise there are no non-obvious limitations. You can
2746provide for more priorities by overriding those symbols (usually defined
2747to be C<-2> and C<2>, respectively).
2748
2749When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search
2750all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space
2751and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (-2 .. +2) is usually
2752fine.
2753
2754If your embedding app does not need any priorities, defining these both to
2755C<0> will save some memory and cpu.
2756
2757=item EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE
2758
2759If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then periodic timers are supported. If
2760defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2761code.
2762
2763=item EV_IDLE_ENABLE
2764
2765If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then idle watchers are supported. If
2766defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2767code.
2768
2769=item EV_EMBED_ENABLE
2770
2771If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then embed watchers are supported. If
2772defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2773
2774=item EV_STAT_ENABLE
2775
2776If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then stat watchers are supported. If
2777defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2778
2779=item EV_FORK_ENABLE
2780
2781If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then fork watchers are supported. If
2782defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2783
2784=item EV_ASYNC_ENABLE
2785
2786If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then async watchers are supported. If
2787defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2788
2789=item EV_MINIMAL
2790
2791If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some
2792speed, define this symbol to C<1>. Currently only used for gcc to override
2793some inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% codesize of amd64.
2794
2795=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE
2796
2797C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2798pid. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>), usually more
2799than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to
2800increase this value (I<must> be a power of two).
2801
2802=item EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE
2803
2804C<ev_stat> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2805inotify watch id. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>),
2806usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of C<ev_stat>
2807watchers you might want to increase this value (I<must> be a power of
2808two).
2809
2810=item EV_COMMON
2811
2812By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining
2813this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of
2814members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
2815though, and it must be identical each time.
2816
2817For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:
2818
2819 #define EV_COMMON \
2820 SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \
2821 SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing ";" */
2822
2823=item EV_CB_DECLARE (type)
2824
2825=item EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)
2826
2827=item ev_set_cb (ev, cb)
2828
2829Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,
2830and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member
2831definition and a statement, respectively. See the F<ev.h> header file for
2832their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to
2833avoid the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument in all cases, or to use
2834method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.
2835
2836=head2 EXPORTED API SYMBOLS
2837
2838If you need to re-export the API (e.g. via a dll) and you need a list of
2839exported symbols, you can use the provided F<Symbol.*> files which list
2840all public symbols, one per line:
2841
2842 Symbols.ev for libev proper
2843 Symbols.event for the libevent emulation
2844
2845This can also be used to rename all public symbols to avoid clashes with
2846multiple versions of libev linked together (which is obviously bad in
2847itself, but sometimes it is inconvinient to avoid this).
2848
2849A sed command like this will create wrapper C<#define>'s that you need to
2850include before including F<ev.h>:
2851
2852 <Symbols.ev sed -e "s/.*/#define & myprefix_&/" >wrap.h
2853
2854This would create a file F<wrap.h> which essentially looks like this:
2855
2856 #define ev_backend myprefix_ev_backend
2857 #define ev_check_start myprefix_ev_check_start
2858 #define ev_check_stop myprefix_ev_check_stop
2859 ...
2860
2861=head2 EXAMPLES
2862
2863For a real-world example of a program the includes libev
2864verbatim, you can have a look at the EV perl module
2865(L<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV.html>). It has the libev files in
2866the F<libev/> subdirectory and includes them in the F<EV/EVAPI.h> (public
2867interface) and F<EV.xs> (implementation) files. Only the F<EV.xs> file
2868will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header
2869file.
2870
2871The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file
2872that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:
2873
2874 #define EV_MINIMAL 1
2875 #define EV_USE_POLL 0
2876 #define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
2877 #define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0
2878 #define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0
2879 #define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0
2880 #define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>
2881 #define EV_MINPRI 0
2882 #define EV_MAXPRI 0
2883
2884 #include "ev++.h"
2885
2886And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:
2887
2888 #include "ev_cpp.h"
2889 #include "ev.c"
2890
2891
2892=head1 COMPLEXITIES
2893
2894In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
2895libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the
2896documentation for C<ev_default_init>.
2897
2898All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be
2899extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this
2900happens asymptotically never with higher number of elements, so O(1) might
2901mean it might do a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on average
2902it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.
2903
2904=over 4
2905
2906=item Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)
2907
2908This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and
2909there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that then inserting will
2910have to skip roughly seven (C<ld 100>) of these watchers.
2911
2912=item Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat or calling again): O(log skipped_other_timers)
2913
2914That means that changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them
2915as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.
2916
2917=item Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child/fork/async watchers: O(1)
2918
2919These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.
2920
2921=item Stopping check/prepare/idle/fork/async watchers: O(1)
2922
2923=item Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))
2924
2925These watchers are stored in lists then need to be walked to find the
2926correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually
2927have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal).
2928
2929=item Finding the next timer in each loop iteration: O(1)
2930
2931By virtue of using a binary heap, the next timer is always found at the
2932beginning of the storage array.
2933
2934=item Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)
2935
2936A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires
2937libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel, depending
2938on backend and wether C<ev_io_set> was used).
2939
2940=item Activating one watcher (putting it into the pending state): O(1)
2941
2942=item Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)
2943
2944Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each
2945priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to
2946linearly search all the priorities, but starting/stopping and activating
2947watchers becomes O(1) w.r.t. priority handling.
2948
2949=item Sending an ev_async: O(1)
2950
2951=item Processing ev_async_send: O(number_of_async_watchers)
2952
2953=item Processing signals: O(max_signal_number)
2954
2955Sending involves a syscall I<iff> there were no other C<ev_async_send>
2956calls in the current loop iteration. Checking for async and signal events
2957involves iterating over all running async watchers or all signal numbers.
2958
2959=back
2960
2961
2962=head1 Win32 platform limitations and workarounds
2963
2964Win32 doesn't support any of the standards (e.g. POSIX) that libev
2965requires, and its I/O model is fundamentally incompatible with the POSIX
2966model. Libev still offers limited functionality on this platform in
2967the form of the C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> backend, and only supports socket
2968descriptors. This only applies when using Win32 natively, not when using
2969e.g. cygwin.
2970
2971There is no supported compilation method available on windows except
2972embedding it into other applications.
2973
2974Due to the many, low, and arbitrary limits on the win32 platform and the
2975abysmal performance of winsockets, using a large number of sockets is not
2976recommended (and not reasonable). If your program needs to use more than
2977a hundred or so sockets, then likely it needs to use a totally different
2978implementation for windows, as libev offers the POSIX model, which cannot
2979be implemented efficiently on windows (microsoft monopoly games).
2980
2981=over 4
2982
2983=item The winsocket select function
2984
2985The winsocket C<select> function doesn't follow POSIX in that it requires
2986socket I<handles> and not socket I<file descriptors>. This makes select
2987very inefficient, and also requires a mapping from file descriptors
2988to socket handles. See the discussion of the C<EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET>,
2989C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> and C<EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE> preprocessor
2990symbols for more info.
2991
2992The configuration for a "naked" win32 using the microsoft runtime
2993libraries and raw winsocket select is:
2994
2995 #define EV_USE_SELECT 1
2996 #define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* forces EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET, too */
2997
2998Note that winsockets handling of fd sets is O(n), so you can easily get a
2999complexity in the O(n²) range when using win32.
3000
3001=item Limited number of file descriptors
3002
3003Windows has numerous arbitrary (and low) limits on things. Early versions
3004of winsocket's select only supported waiting for a max. of C<64> handles
3005(probably owning to the fact that all windows kernels can only wait for
3006C<64> things at the same time internally; microsoft recommends spawning a
3007chain of threads and wait for 63 handles and the previous thread in each).
3008
3009Newer versions support more handles, but you need to define C<FD_SETSIZE>
3010to some high number (e.g. C<2048>) before compiling the winsocket select
3011call (which might be in libev or elsewhere, for example, perl does its own
3012select emulation on windows).
3013
3014Another limit is the number of file descriptors in the microsoft runtime
3015libraries, which by default is C<64> (there must be a hidden I<64> fetish
3016or something like this inside microsoft). You can increase this by calling
3017C<_setmaxstdio>, which can increase this limit to C<2048> (another
3018arbitrary limit), but is broken in many versions of the microsoft runtime
3019libraries.
3020
3021This might get you to about C<512> or C<2048> sockets (depending on
3022windows version and/or the phase of the moon). To get more, you need to
3023wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but the cost of
3024calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable.
3025
3026=back
3027
3028
742=head1 AUTHOR 3029=head1 AUTHOR
743 3030
744Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>. 3031Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>.
745 3032

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