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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 int ev_is_default_loop (loop)
512
513Returns true when the given loop actually is the default loop, false otherwise.
514
515=item unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)
516
517Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to
518the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at C<0> and
519happily wraps around with enough iterations.
520
521This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it
522"ticks" the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with
523C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> calls.
524
202=item unsigned int ev_method (loop) 525=item unsigned int ev_backend (loop)
203 526
204Returns one of the C<EVMETHOD_*> flags indicating the event backend in 527Returns one of the C<EVBACKEND_*> flags indicating the event backend in
205use. 528use.
206 529
207=item ev_tstamp = ev_now (loop) 530=item ev_tstamp ev_now (loop)
208 531
209Returns the current "event loop time", which is the time the event loop 532Returns the current "event loop time", which is the time the event loop
210got events and started processing them. This timestamp does not change 533received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not
211as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base time 534change 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 535time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the
213occuring (or more correctly, the mainloop finding out about it). 536event occurring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).
214 537
215=item ev_loop (loop, int flags) 538=item ev_loop (loop, int flags)
216 539
217Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called 540Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called
218after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling 541after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling
219events. 542events.
220 543
221If the flags argument is specified as 0, it will not return until either 544If 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. 545either no event watchers are active anymore or C<ev_unloop> was called.
546
547Please note that an explicit C<ev_unloop> is usually better than
548relying on all watchers to be stopped when deciding when a program has
549finished (especially in interactive programs), but having a program that
550automatically loops as long as it has to and no longer by virtue of
551relying on its watchers stopping correctly is a thing of beauty.
223 552
224A flags value of C<EVLOOP_NONBLOCK> will look for new events, will handle 553A 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 554those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in
226case there are no events. 555case there are no events and will return after one iteration of the loop.
227 556
228A flags value of C<EVLOOP_ONESHOT> will look for new events (waiting if 557A 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 558neccessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block
230your process until at least one new event arrives. 559your process until at least one new event arrives, and will return after
560one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some
561external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other
562libev watchers. However, a pair of C<ev_prepare>/C<ev_check> watchers is
563usually a better approach for this kind of thing.
231 564
232This flags value could be used to implement alternative looping 565Here are the gory details of what C<ev_loop> does:
233constructs, but the C<prepare> and C<check> watchers provide a better and 566
234more generic mechanism. 567 - Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
568 * If EVFLAG_FORKCHECK was used, check for a fork.
569 - If a fork was detected, queue and call all fork watchers.
570 - Queue and call all prepare watchers.
571 - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.
572 - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
573 - Update the "event loop time".
574 - Calculate for how long to sleep or block, if at all
575 (active idle watchers, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK or not having
576 any active watchers at all will result in not sleeping).
577 - Sleep if the I/O and timer collect interval say so.
578 - Block the process, waiting for any events.
579 - Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.
580 - Update the "event loop time" and do time jump handling.
581 - Queue all outstanding timers.
582 - Queue all outstanding periodics.
583 - If no events are pending now, queue all idle watchers.
584 - Queue all check watchers.
585 - Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).
586 Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will
587 be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
588 - If ev_unloop has been called, or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK
589 were used, or there are no active watchers, return, otherwise
590 continue with step *.
591
592Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outstanding
593anymore.
594
595 ... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
596 ... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
597 ev_loop (my_loop, 0);
598 ... jobs done. yeah!
235 599
236=item ev_unloop (loop, how) 600=item ev_unloop (loop, how)
237 601
238Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early. The C<how> argument 602Can be used to make a call to C<ev_loop> return early (but only after it
603has 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> 604C<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> 605C<EVUNLOOP_ALL>, which will make all nested C<ev_loop> calls return.
241calls return. 606
607This "unloop state" will be cleared when entering C<ev_loop> again.
242 608
243=item ev_ref (loop) 609=item ev_ref (loop)
244 610
245=item ev_unref (loop) 611=item ev_unref (loop)
246 612
247Ref/unref can be used to add or remove a refcount on the event loop: Every 613Ref/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 614loop: Every watcher keeps one reference, and as long as the reference
249unregister that should not keep ev_loop from running, ev_unref() after 615count 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 616a 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 617returning, 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 618example, 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 619visible 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 620no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent
255before stop. 621way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party
622libraries. Just remember to I<unref after start> and I<ref before stop>
623(but only if the watcher wasn't active before, or was active before,
624respectively).
625
626Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping C<ev_loop>
627running when nothing else is active.
628
629 struct ev_signal exitsig;
630 ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
631 ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);
632 evf_unref (loop);
633
634Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.
635
636 ev_ref (loop);
637 ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);
638
639=item ev_set_io_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
640
641=item ev_set_timeout_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)
642
643These advanced functions influence the time that libev will spend waiting
644for events. Both are by default C<0>, meaning that libev will try to
645invoke timer/periodic callbacks and I/O callbacks with minimum latency.
646
647Setting these to a higher value (the C<interval> I<must> be >= C<0>)
648allows libev to delay invocation of I/O and timer/periodic callbacks to
649increase efficiency of loop iterations.
650
651The background is that sometimes your program runs just fast enough to
652handle one (or very few) event(s) per loop iteration. While this makes
653the program responsive, it also wastes a lot of CPU time to poll for new
654events, especially with backends like C<select ()> which have a high
655overhead for the actual polling but can deliver many events at once.
656
657By setting a higher I<io collect interval> you allow libev to spend more
658time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration,
659at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both C<ev_periodic> and
660C<ev_timer>) will be not affected. Setting this to a non-null value will
661introduce an additional C<ev_sleep ()> call into most loop iterations.
662
663Likewise, by setting a higher I<timeout collect interval> you allow libev
664to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased
665latency (the watcher callback will be called later). C<ev_io> watchers
666will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null value will not introduce
667any overhead in libev.
668
669Many (busy) programs can usually benefit by setting the io collect
670interval to a value near C<0.1> or so, which is often enough for
671interactive servers (of course not for games), likewise for timeouts. It
672usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than C<0.01>,
673as this approsaches the timing granularity of most systems.
256 674
257=back 675=back
676
258 677
259=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER 678=head1 ANATOMY OF A WATCHER
260 679
261A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your 680A 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 681interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to
263become readable, you would create an ev_io watcher for that: 682become readable, you would create an C<ev_io> watcher for that:
264 683
265 static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents) 684 static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
266 { 685 {
267 ev_io_stop (w); 686 ev_io_stop (w);
268 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL); 687 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
295*) >>), and you can stop watching for events at any time by calling the 714*) >>), and you can stop watching for events at any time by calling the
296corresponding stop function (C<< ev_<type>_stop (loop, watcher *) >>. 715corresponding stop function (C<< ev_<type>_stop (loop, watcher *) >>.
297 716
298As long as your watcher is active (has been started but not stopped) you 717As 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 718must not touch the values stored in it. Most specifically you must never
300reinitialise it or call its set method. 719reinitialise 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.
306 720
307Each and every callback receives the event loop pointer as first, the 721Each and every callback receives the event loop pointer as first, the
308registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as 722registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as
309third argument. 723third argument.
310 724
311The rceeived events usually include a single bit per event type received 725The 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 726(you can receive multiple events at the same time). The possible bit masks
313are: 727are:
314 728
315=over 4 729=over 4
316 730
317=item EV_READ 731=item C<EV_READ>
318 732
319=item EV_WRITE 733=item C<EV_WRITE>
320 734
321The file descriptor in the ev_io watcher has become readable and/or 735The file descriptor in the C<ev_io> watcher has become readable and/or
322writable. 736writable.
323 737
324=item EV_TIMEOUT 738=item C<EV_TIMEOUT>
325 739
326The ev_timer watcher has timed out. 740The C<ev_timer> watcher has timed out.
327 741
328=item EV_PERIODIC 742=item C<EV_PERIODIC>
329 743
330The ev_periodic watcher has timed out. 744The C<ev_periodic> watcher has timed out.
331 745
332=item EV_SIGNAL 746=item C<EV_SIGNAL>
333 747
334The signal specified in the ev_signal watcher has been received by a thread. 748The signal specified in the C<ev_signal> watcher has been received by a thread.
335 749
336=item EV_CHILD 750=item C<EV_CHILD>
337 751
338The pid specified in the ev_child watcher has received a status change. 752The pid specified in the C<ev_child> watcher has received a status change.
339 753
754=item C<EV_STAT>
755
756The path specified in the C<ev_stat> watcher changed its attributes somehow.
757
340=item EV_IDLE 758=item C<EV_IDLE>
341 759
342The ev_idle watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do. 760The C<ev_idle> watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do.
343 761
344=item EV_PREPARE 762=item C<EV_PREPARE>
345 763
346=item EV_CHECK 764=item C<EV_CHECK>
347 765
348All ev_prepare watchers are invoked just I<before> C<ev_loop> starts 766All 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 767to 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 768C<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 769received 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 770many 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 771(for example, a C<ev_prepare> watcher might start an idle watcher to keep
354C<ev_loop> from blocking). 772C<ev_loop> from blocking).
355 773
774=item C<EV_EMBED>
775
776The embedded event loop specified in the C<ev_embed> watcher needs attention.
777
778=item C<EV_FORK>
779
780The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
781C<ev_fork>).
782
783=item C<EV_ASYNC>
784
785The given async watcher has been asynchronously notified (see C<ev_async>).
786
356=item EV_ERROR 787=item C<EV_ERROR>
357 788
358An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might 789An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might
359happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev 790happen 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 791ran 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 792problem. 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 798with the error from read() or write(). This will not work in multithreaded
368programs, though, so beware. 799programs, though, so beware.
369 800
370=back 801=back
371 802
803=head2 GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS
804
805In the following description, C<TYPE> stands for the watcher type,
806e.g. C<timer> for C<ev_timer> watchers and C<io> for C<ev_io> watchers.
807
808=over 4
809
810=item C<ev_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
811
812This macro initialises the generic portion of a watcher. The contents
813of the watcher object can be arbitrary (so C<malloc> will do). Only
814the generic parts of the watcher are initialised, you I<need> to call
815the type-specific C<ev_TYPE_set> macro afterwards to initialise the
816type-specific parts. For each type there is also a C<ev_TYPE_init> macro
817which rolls both calls into one.
818
819You can reinitialise a watcher at any time as long as it has been stopped
820(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.
821
822The callback is always of type C<void (*)(ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,
823int revents)>.
824
825=item C<ev_TYPE_set> (ev_TYPE *, [args])
826
827This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to
828call C<ev_init> at least once before you call this macro, but you can
829call C<ev_TYPE_set> any number of times. You must not, however, call this
830macro on a watcher that is active (it can be pending, however, which is a
831difference to the C<ev_init> macro).
832
833Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments
834(e.g. C<ev_prepare>) you still need to call its C<set> macro.
835
836=item C<ev_TYPE_init> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])
837
838This convinience macro rolls both C<ev_init> and C<ev_TYPE_set> macro
839calls into a single call. This is the most convinient method to initialise
840a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.
841
842=item C<ev_TYPE_start> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)
843
844Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive
845events. If the watcher is already active nothing will happen.
846
847=item C<ev_TYPE_stop> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)
848
849Stops the given watcher again (if active) and clears the pending
850status. It is possible that stopped watchers are pending (for example,
851non-repeating timers are being stopped when they become pending), but
852C<ev_TYPE_stop> ensures that the watcher is neither active nor pending. If
853you want to free or reuse the memory used by the watcher it is therefore a
854good idea to always call its C<ev_TYPE_stop> function.
855
856=item bool ev_is_active (ev_TYPE *watcher)
857
858Returns a true value iff the watcher is active (i.e. it has been started
859and not yet been stopped). As long as a watcher is active you must not modify
860it.
861
862=item bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)
863
864Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding
865events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher
866is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but
867C<ev_TYPE_set> is safe), you must not change its priority, and you must
868make sure the watcher is available to libev (e.g. you cannot C<free ()>
869it).
870
871=item callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)
872
873Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.
874
875=item ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)
876
877Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
878(modulo threads).
879
880=item ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, priority)
881
882=item int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)
883
884Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small
885integer between C<EV_MAXPRI> (default: C<2>) and C<EV_MINPRI>
886(default: C<-2>). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked
887before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers
888from being executed (except for C<ev_idle> watchers).
889
890This means that priorities are I<only> used for ordering callback
891invocation after new events have been received. This is useful, for
892example, to reduce latency after idling, or more often, to bind two
893watchers on the same event and make sure one is called first.
894
895If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending
896you need to look at C<ev_idle> watchers, which provide this functionality.
897
898You I<must not> change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or
899pending.
900
901The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
902always C<0>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).
903
904Setting a priority outside the range of C<EV_MINPRI> to C<EV_MAXPRI> is
905fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might
906or might not have been adjusted to be within valid range.
907
908=item ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)
909
910Invoke the C<watcher> with the given C<loop> and C<revents>. Neither
911C<loop> nor C<revents> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
912can deal with that fact.
913
914=item int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)
915
916If the watcher is pending, this function returns clears its pending status
917and returns its C<revents> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
918watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns C<0>.
919
920=back
921
922
372=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER 923=head2 ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER
373 924
374Each watcher has, by default, a member C<void *data> that you can change 925Each 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 926and 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 927to 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 928don'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 929member, you can also "subclass" the watcher type and provide your own
379data: 930data:
380 931
393 { 944 {
394 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_; 945 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
395 ... 946 ...
396 } 947 }
397 948
398More interesting and less C-conformant ways of catsing your callback type 949More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type
399have been omitted.... 950instead have been omitted.
951
952Another common scenario is having some data structure with multiple
953watchers:
954
955 struct my_biggy
956 {
957 int some_data;
958 ev_timer t1;
959 ev_timer t2;
960 }
961
962In this case getting the pointer to C<my_biggy> is a bit more complicated,
963you need to use C<offsetof>:
964
965 #include <stddef.h>
966
967 static void
968 t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
969 {
970 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
971 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
972 }
973
974 static void
975 t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
976 {
977 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
978 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
979 }
400 980
401 981
402=head1 WATCHER TYPES 982=head1 WATCHER TYPES
403 983
404This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat 984This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat
405information given in the last section. 985information given in the last section. Any initialisation/set macros,
986functions and members specific to the watcher type are explained.
406 987
988Members are additionally marked with either I<[read-only]>, meaning that,
989while the watcher is active, you can look at the member and expect some
990sensible content, but you must not modify it (you can modify it while the
991watcher is stopped to your hearts content), or I<[read-write]>, which
992means you can expect it to have some sensible content while the watcher
993is active, but you can also modify it. Modifying it may not do something
994sensible or take immediate effect (or do anything at all), but libev will
995not crash or malfunction in any way.
996
997
407=head2 struct ev_io - is my file descriptor readable or writable 998=head2 C<ev_io> - is this file descriptor readable or writable?
408 999
409I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable 1000I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable
410in each iteration of the event loop (This behaviour is called 1001in each iteration of the event loop, or, more precisely, when reading
411level-triggering because you keep receiving events as long as the 1002would 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 1003some data. This behaviour is called level-triggering because you keep
413act on the event and neither want to receive future events). 1004receiving events as long as the condition persists. Remember you can stop
1005the watcher if you don't want to act on the event and neither want to
1006receive future events.
414 1007
415In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers oer 1008In 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 1009fd 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 1010descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
418required if you know what you are doing). 1011required if you know what you are doing).
419 1012
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 1013If 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 1014(at the time of this writing, this includes only C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> and
427EVMETHOD_POLL). 1015C<EVBACKEND_POLL>).
1016
1017Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
1018receive "spurious" readyness notifications, that is your callback might
1019be called with C<EV_READ> but a subsequent C<read>(2) will actually block
1020because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a
1021lot of those (for example solaris ports), it is very easy to get into
1022this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus
1023it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra C<read>(2) returning
1024C<EAGAIN> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.
1025
1026If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not
1027play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test
1028whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
1029such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on
1030its own, so its quite safe to use).
1031
1032=head3 The special problem of disappearing file descriptors
1033
1034Some backends (e.g. kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file
1035descriptor (either by calling C<close> explicitly or by any other means,
1036such as C<dup>). The reason is that you register interest in some file
1037descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop
1038this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is
1039registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in
1040fact, a different file descriptor.
1041
1042To avoid having to explicitly tell libev about such cases, libev follows
1043the following policy: Each time C<ev_io_set> is being called, libev
1044will assume that this is potentially a new file descriptor, otherwise
1045it is assumed that the file descriptor stays the same. That means that
1046you I<have> to call C<ev_io_set> (or C<ev_io_init>) when you change the
1047descriptor even if the file descriptor number itself did not change.
1048
1049This is how one would do it normally anyway, the important point is that
1050the libev application should not optimise around libev but should leave
1051optimisations to libev.
1052
1053=head3 The special problem of dup'ed file descriptors
1054
1055Some backends (e.g. epoll), cannot register events for file descriptors,
1056but only events for the underlying file descriptions. That means when you
1057have C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors or weirder constellations, and register
1058events for them, only one file descriptor might actually receive events.
1059
1060There is no workaround possible except not registering events
1061for potentially C<dup ()>'ed file descriptors, or to resort to
1062C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1063
1064=head3 The special problem of fork
1065
1066Some backends (epoll, kqueue) do not support C<fork ()> at all or exhibit
1067useless behaviour. Libev fully supports fork, but needs to be told about
1068it in the child.
1069
1070To support fork in your programs, you either have to call
1071C<ev_default_fork ()> or C<ev_loop_fork ()> after a fork in the child,
1072enable C<EVFLAG_FORKCHECK>, or resort to C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> or
1073C<EVBACKEND_POLL>.
1074
1075
1076=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions
428 1077
429=over 4 1078=over 4
430 1079
431=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events) 1080=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)
432 1081
433=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events) 1082=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)
434 1083
435Configures an ev_io watcher. The fd is the file descriptor to rceeive 1084Configures 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 | 1085rceeive events for and events is either C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or
437EV_WRITE> to receive the given events. 1086C<EV_READ | EV_WRITE> to receive the given events.
1087
1088=item int fd [read-only]
1089
1090The file descriptor being watched.
1091
1092=item int events [read-only]
1093
1094The events being watched.
438 1095
439=back 1096=back
440 1097
1098=head3 Examples
1099
1100Example: Call C<stdin_readable_cb> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well
1101readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could
1102attempt to read a whole line in the callback.
1103
1104 static void
1105 stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
1106 {
1107 ev_io_stop (loop, w);
1108 .. read from stdin here (or from w->fd) and haqndle any I/O errors
1109 }
1110
1111 ...
1112 struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
1113 struct ev_io stdin_readable;
1114 ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
1115 ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);
1116 ev_loop (loop, 0);
1117
1118
441=head2 struct ev_timer - relative and optionally recurring timeouts 1119=head2 C<ev_timer> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts
442 1120
443Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a 1121Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a
444given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that. 1122given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.
445 1123
446The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that 1124The 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 1125times 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 1126time, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. "Roughly" because
449detecting time jumps is hard, and soem inaccuracies are unavoidable (the 1127detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the
450monotonic clock option helps a lot here). 1128monotonic clock option helps a lot here).
1129
1130The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the C<ev_now ()>
1131time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time
1132of the event triggering whatever timeout you are modifying/starting. If
1133you suspect event processing to be delayed and you I<need> to base the timeout
1134on the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:
1135
1136 ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);
1137
1138The callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when its timeout has passed,
1139but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then
1140order of execution is undefined.
1141
1142=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
451 1143
452=over 4 1144=over 4
453 1145
454=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat) 1146=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)
455 1147
461later, again, and again, until stopped manually. 1153later, again, and again, until stopped manually.
462 1154
463The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if you 1155The 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 1156configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will trigger at
465exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot keep up with 1157exactly 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 1158the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to do stuff) the
467timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration. 1159timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.
468 1160
469=item ev_timer_again (loop) 1161=item ev_timer_again (loop, ev_timer *)
470 1162
471This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is 1163This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
472repeating. The exact semantics are: 1164repeating. The exact semantics are:
473 1165
1166If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.
1167
474If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it. 1168If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it (as if it timed out).
475 1169
476If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the repeat 1170If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the
477value), or reset the running timer to the repeat value. 1171C<repeat> value), or reset the running timer to the C<repeat> value.
478 1172
479This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical 1173This 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 1174example: 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 1175timeout, 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 1176seconds 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 1177configure 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 1178C<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 1179you 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. 1180socket, you can C<ev_timer_stop> the timer, and C<ev_timer_again> will
1181automatically restart it if need be.
1182
1183That means you can ignore the C<after> value and C<ev_timer_start>
1184altogether and only ever use the C<repeat> value and C<ev_timer_again>:
1185
1186 ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);
1187 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1188 ...
1189 timer->again = 17.;
1190 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1191 ...
1192 timer->again = 10.;
1193 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1194
1195This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time
1196you want to modify its timeout value.
1197
1198=item ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]
1199
1200The current C<repeat> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
1201or C<ev_timer_again> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),
1202which is also when any modifications are taken into account.
487 1203
488=back 1204=back
489 1205
1206=head3 Examples
1207
1208Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.
1209
1210 static void
1211 one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
1212 {
1213 .. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here
1214 }
1215
1216 struct ev_timer mytimer;
1217 ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);
1218 ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);
1219
1220Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
1221inactivity.
1222
1223 static void
1224 timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
1225 {
1226 .. ten seconds without any activity
1227 }
1228
1229 struct ev_timer mytimer;
1230 ev_timer_init (&mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */
1231 ev_timer_again (&mytimer); /* start timer */
1232 ev_loop (loop, 0);
1233
1234 // and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":
1235 // reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds
1236 ev_timer_again (&mytimer);
1237
1238
490=head2 ev_periodic - to cron or not to cron it 1239=head2 C<ev_periodic> - to cron or not to cron?
491 1240
492Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile 1241Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile
493(and unfortunately a bit complex). 1242(and unfortunately a bit complex).
494 1243
495Unlike ev_timer's, they are not based on real time (or relative time) 1244Unlike 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 1245but 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 1246to 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 () 1247periodic 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 1248+ 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 1249take 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 1250roughly 10 seconds later).
502again).
503 1251
504They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as 1252They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as
505triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time. 1253triggering an event on each midnight, local time or other, complicated,
1254rules.
1255
1256As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the
1257time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
1258during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.
1259
1260=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
506 1261
507=over 4 1262=over 4
508 1263
509=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb) 1264=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)
510 1265
511=item ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb) 1266=item ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)
512 1267
513Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of 1268Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of
514operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex: 1269operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:
515 1270
516
517=over 4 1271=over 4
518 1272
519=item * absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0) 1273=item * absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)
520 1274
521In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time 1275In 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, 1276C<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 1277that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the
524system time reaches or surpasses this time. 1278system time reaches or surpasses this time.
525 1279
526=item * non-repeating interval timer (interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0) 1280=item * repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)
527 1281
528In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next 1282In 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 1283C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)
530of any time jumps. 1284and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps.
531 1285
532This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system 1286This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system
533time: 1287time:
534 1288
535 ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0); 1289 ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);
536 1290
537This doesn't mean there will always be 3600 seconds in between triggers, 1291This 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 1292but 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 1293full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible
540by 3600. 1294by 3600.
541 1295
542Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that 1296Another 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 1297C<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. 1298time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.
545 1299
1300For numerical stability it is preferable that the C<at> value is near
1301C<ev_now ()> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
1302this value.
1303
546=item * manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback) 1304=item * manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)
547 1305
548In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being 1306In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being
549ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the 1307ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
550reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the 1308reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
551current time as second argument. 1309current time as second argument.
552 1310
553NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy the periodic or any other 1311NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,
554periodic watcher, ever, or make any event loop modificstions>. If you need 1312ever, 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. 1313return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
1314starting an C<ev_prepare> watcher, which is legal).
556 1315
557Its prototype is c<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, 1316Its prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,
558ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.: 1317ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:
559 1318
560 static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) 1319 static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
561 { 1320 {
562 return now + 60.; 1321 return now + 60.;
565It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value 1324It 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 1325(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 1326will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but
568might be called at other times, too. 1327might be called at other times, too.
569 1328
1329NOTE: I<< This callback must always return a time that is later than the
1330passed C<now> value >>. Not even C<now> itself will do, it I<must> be larger.
1331
570This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that 1332This 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 1333triggers 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 1334next midnight after C<now> and return the timestamp value for this. How
573is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial). 1335you do this is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial, which is the main
1336reason I omitted it as an example).
574 1337
575=back 1338=back
576 1339
577=item ev_periodic_again (loop, ev_periodic *) 1340=item ev_periodic_again (loop, ev_periodic *)
578 1341
579Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful 1342Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
580when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return 1343when 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 1344a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
582program when the crontabs have changed). 1345program when the crontabs have changed).
583 1346
1347=item ev_tstamp offset [read-write]
1348
1349When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
1350absolute point in time (the C<at> value passed to C<ev_periodic_set>).
1351
1352Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
1353timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1354
1355=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]
1356
1357The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1358take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being
1359called.
1360
1361=item ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read-write]
1362
1363The current reschedule callback, or C<0>, if this functionality is
1364switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
1365the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1366
1367=item ev_tstamp at [read-only]
1368
1369When active, contains the absolute time that the watcher is supposed to
1370trigger next.
1371
584=back 1372=back
585 1373
1374=head3 Examples
1375
1376Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
1377system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
1378potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.
1379
1380 static void
1381 clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
1382 {
1383 ... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)
1384 }
1385
1386 struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1387 ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);
1388 ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1389
1390Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:
1391
1392 #include <math.h>
1393
1394 static ev_tstamp
1395 my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1396 {
1397 return fmod (now, 3600.) + 3600.;
1398 }
1399
1400 ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);
1401
1402Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:
1403
1404 struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1405 ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,
1406 fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);
1407 ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1408
1409
586=head2 ev_signal - signal me when a signal gets signalled 1410=head2 C<ev_signal> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!
587 1411
588Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific 1412Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
589signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev 1413signal 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 1414will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the
591normal event processing, like any other event. 1415normal event processing, like any other event.
592 1416
593You cna configure as many watchers as you like per signal. Only when the 1417You can configure as many watchers as you like per signal. Only when the
594first watcher gets started will libev actually register a signal watcher 1418first watcher gets started will libev actually register a signal watcher
595with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long 1419with 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 1420as 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 1421watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to
598SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before). 1422SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before).
599 1423
1424=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1425
600=over 4 1426=over 4
601 1427
602=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum) 1428=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)
603 1429
604=item ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum) 1430=item ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)
605 1431
606Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one 1432Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one
607of the C<SIGxxx> constants). 1433of the C<SIGxxx> constants).
608 1434
1435=item int signum [read-only]
1436
1437The signal the watcher watches out for.
1438
609=back 1439=back
610 1440
1441=head3 Examples
1442
1443Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.
1444
1445 static void
1446 sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)
1447 {
1448 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
1449 }
1450
1451 struct ev_signal signal_watcher;
1452 ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);
1453 ev_signal_start (loop, &sigint_cb);
1454
1455
611=head2 ev_child - wait for pid status changes 1456=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes
612 1457
613Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to 1458Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to
614some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies). 1459some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).
615 1460
1461=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1462
616=over 4 1463=over 4
617 1464
618=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid) 1465=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid, int trace)
619 1466
620=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid) 1467=item ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid, int trace)
621 1468
622Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of process C<pid> (or 1469Configures 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 1470I<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 1471at 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 1472the status word (use the macros from C<sys/wait.h> and see your systems
626contains the pid of the process causing the status change. 1473C<waitpid> documentation). The C<rpid> member contains the pid of the
1474process causing the status change. C<trace> must be either C<0> (only
1475activate the watcher when the process terminates) or C<1> (additionally
1476activate the watcher when the process is stopped or continued).
1477
1478=item int pid [read-only]
1479
1480The process id this watcher watches out for, or C<0>, meaning any process id.
1481
1482=item int rpid [read-write]
1483
1484The process id that detected a status change.
1485
1486=item int rstatus [read-write]
1487
1488The process exit/trace status caused by C<rpid> (see your systems
1489C<waitpid> and C<sys/wait.h> documentation for details).
627 1490
628=back 1491=back
629 1492
1493
1494=head2 C<ev_stat> - did the file attributes just change?
1495
1496This watches a filesystem path for attribute changes. That is, it calls
1497C<stat> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed
1498compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.
1499
1500The path does not need to exist: changing from "path exists" to "path does
1501not exist" is a status change like any other. The condition "path does
1502not exist" is signified by the C<st_nlink> field being zero (which is
1503otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of
1504the stat buffer having unspecified contents.
1505
1506The path I<should> be absolute and I<must not> end in a slash. If it is
1507relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.
1508
1509Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply
1510calls C<stat (2)> regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You
1511can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify
1512a polling interval of C<0> (highly recommended!) then a I<suitable,
1513unspecified default> value will be used (which you can expect to be around
1514five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also
1515impose a minimum interval which is currently around C<0.1>, but thats
1516usually overkill.
1517
1518This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,
1519as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be
1520resource-intensive.
1521
1522At the time of this writing, only the Linux inotify interface is
1523implemented (implementing kqueue support is left as an exercise for the
1524reader). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should not change the
1525semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers, which means that libev sometimes needs
1526to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify, but changes are
1527usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there will be no
1528polling.
1529
1530=head3 Inotify
1531
1532When C<inotify (7)> support has been compiled into libev (generally only
1533available on Linux) and present at runtime, it will be used to speed up
1534change detection where possible. The inotify descriptor will be created lazily
1535when the first C<ev_stat> watcher is being started.
1536
1537Inotify presense does not change the semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers
1538except that changes might be detected earlier, and in some cases, to avoid
1539making regular C<stat> calls. Even in the presense of inotify support
1540there are many cases where libev has to resort to regular C<stat> polling.
1541
1542(There is no support for kqueue, as apparently it cannot be used to
1543implement this functionality, due to the requirement of having a file
1544descriptor open on the object at all times).
1545
1546=head3 The special problem of stat time resolution
1547
1548The C<stat ()> syscall only supports full-second resolution portably, and
1549even on systems where the resolution is higher, many filesystems still
1550only support whole seconds.
1551
1552That means that, if the time is the only thing that changes, you might
1553miss updates: on the first update, C<ev_stat> detects a change and calls
1554your callback, which does something. When there is another update within
1555the same second, C<ev_stat> will be unable to detect it.
1556
1557The solution to this is to delay acting on a change for a second (or till
1558the next second boundary), using a roughly one-second delay C<ev_timer>
1559(C<ev_timer_set (w, 0., 1.01); ev_timer_again (loop, w)>). The C<.01>
1560is added to work around small timing inconsistencies of some operating
1561systems.
1562
1563=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1564
1565=over 4
1566
1567=item ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)
1568
1569=item ev_stat_set (ev_stat *, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)
1570
1571Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of the given
1572C<path>. The C<interval> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to
1573be detected and should normally be specified as C<0> to let libev choose
1574a suitable value. The memory pointed to by C<path> must point to the same
1575path for as long as the watcher is active.
1576
1577The callback will be receive C<EV_STAT> when a change was detected,
1578relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the
1579last change was detected).
1580
1581=item ev_stat_stat (loop, ev_stat *)
1582
1583Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the
1584watched path in your callback, you could call this fucntion to avoid
1585detecting this change (while introducing a race condition). Can also be
1586useful simply to find out the new values.
1587
1588=item ev_statdata attr [read-only]
1589
1590The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is of
1591C<ev_statdata>, this is usually the (or one of the) C<struct stat> types
1592suitable for your system. If the C<st_nlink> member is C<0>, then there
1593was some error while C<stat>ing the file.
1594
1595=item ev_statdata prev [read-only]
1596
1597The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever
1598C<prev> != C<attr>.
1599
1600=item ev_tstamp interval [read-only]
1601
1602The specified interval.
1603
1604=item const char *path [read-only]
1605
1606The filesystem path that is being watched.
1607
1608=back
1609
1610=head3 Examples
1611
1612Example: Watch C</etc/passwd> for attribute changes.
1613
1614 static void
1615 passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)
1616 {
1617 /* /etc/passwd changed in some way */
1618 if (w->attr.st_nlink)
1619 {
1620 printf ("passwd current size %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_size);
1621 printf ("passwd current atime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1622 printf ("passwd current mtime %ld\n", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1623 }
1624 else
1625 /* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */
1626 puts ("wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. "
1627 "if this is windows, they already arrived\n");
1628 }
1629
1630 ...
1631 ev_stat passwd;
1632
1633 ev_stat_init (&passwd, passwd_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);
1634 ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
1635
1636Example: Like above, but additionally use a one-second delay so we do not
1637miss updates (however, frequent updates will delay processing, too, so
1638one might do the work both on C<ev_stat> callback invocation I<and> on
1639C<ev_timer> callback invocation).
1640
1641 static ev_stat passwd;
1642 static ev_timer timer;
1643
1644 static void
1645 timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1646 {
1647 ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ w);
1648
1649 /* now it's one second after the most recent passwd change */
1650 }
1651
1652 static void
1653 stat_cb (EV_P_ ev_stat *w, int revents)
1654 {
1655 /* reset the one-second timer */
1656 ev_timer_again (EV_A_ &timer);
1657 }
1658
1659 ...
1660 ev_stat_init (&passwd, stat_cb, "/etc/passwd", 0.);
1661 ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
1662 ev_timer_init (&timer, timer_cb, 0., 1.01);
1663
1664
630=head2 ev_idle - when you've got nothing better to do 1665=head2 C<ev_idle> - when you've got nothing better to do...
631 1666
632Idle watchers trigger events when there are no other I/O or timer (or 1667Idle watchers trigger events when no other events of the same or higher
633periodic) events pending. That is, as long as your process is busy 1668priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not
634handling sockets or timeouts it will not be called. But when your process 1669count).
635is idle all idle watchers are being called again and again - until 1670
1671That is, as long as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts
1672(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be
1673triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers
1674are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop
636stopped, that is, or your process receives more events. 1675iteration - until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events
1676and becomes busy again with higher priority stuff.
637 1677
638The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are 1678The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are
639active, the process will not block when waiting for new events. 1679active, the process will not block when waiting for new events.
640 1680
641Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful 1681Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful
642effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do 1682effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do
643"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the 1683"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the
644event loop has handled all outstanding events. 1684event loop has handled all outstanding events.
645 1685
1686=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1687
646=over 4 1688=over 4
647 1689
648=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback) 1690=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)
649 1691
650Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any 1692Initialises 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, 1693kind. There is a C<ev_idle_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
652believe me. 1694believe me.
653 1695
654=back 1696=back
655 1697
656=head2 prepare and check - your hooks into the event loop 1698=head3 Examples
657 1699
1700Example: Dynamically allocate an C<ev_idle> watcher, start it, and in the
1701callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.
1702
1703 static void
1704 idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)
1705 {
1706 free (w);
1707 // now do something you wanted to do when the program has
1708 // no longer anything immediate to do.
1709 }
1710
1711 struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle));
1712 ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);
1713 ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb);
1714
1715
1716=head2 C<ev_prepare> and C<ev_check> - customise your event loop!
1717
658Prepare and check watchers usually (but not always) are used in 1718Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:
659tandom. Prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check 1719prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers
660watchers afterwards. 1720afterwards.
661 1721
1722You I<must not> call C<ev_loop> or similar functions that enter
1723the current event loop from either C<ev_prepare> or C<ev_check>
1724watchers. Other loops than the current one are fine, however. The
1725rationale behind this is that you do not need to check for recursion in
1726those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be C<ev_prepare>, blocking,
1727C<ev_check> so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be
1728called in pairs bracketing the blocking call.
1729
662Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev. This 1730Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and
663could be used, for example, to track variable changes, implement your own 1731their use is somewhat advanced. This could be used, for example, to track
664watchers, integrate net-snmp or a coroutine library and lots more. 1732variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a
1733coroutine library and lots more. They are also occasionally useful if
1734you cache some data and want to flush it before blocking (for example,
1735in X programs you might want to do an C<XFlush ()> in an C<ev_prepare>
1736watcher).
665 1737
666This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need 1738This 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 1739to be watched by the other library, registering C<ev_io> watchers for
668and starting an ev_timer watcher for any timeouts (many libraries provide 1740them and starting an C<ev_timer> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries
669just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for any 1741provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for
670events that occured (by making your callbacks set soem flags for example) 1742any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers
671and call back into the library. 1743and stopping them) and call back into the library. The I/O and timer
1744callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid nevertheless,
1745because you never know, you know?).
672 1746
673As another example, the perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate 1747As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate
674coroutines into libev programs, by yielding to other active coroutines 1748coroutines into libev programs, by yielding to other active coroutines
675during each prepare and only letting the process block if no coroutines 1749during each prepare and only letting the process block if no coroutines
676are ready to run. 1750are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines
1751with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine
1752of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
1753loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
1754low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).
1755
1756It is recommended to give C<ev_check> watchers highest (C<EV_MAXPRI>)
1757priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers
1758after the poll. Also, C<ev_check> watchers (and C<ev_prepare> watchers,
1759too) should not activate ("feed") events into libev. While libev fully
1760supports this, they will be called before other C<ev_check> watchers
1761did their job. As C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other
1762(non-libev) event loops those other event loops might be in an unusable
1763state until their C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to
1764coexist peacefully with others).
1765
1766=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
677 1767
678=over 4 1768=over 4
679 1769
680=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback) 1770=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)
681 1771
682=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback) 1772=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)
683 1773
684Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no 1774Initialises 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> 1775parameters of any kind. There are C<ev_prepare_set> and C<ev_check_set>
686macros, but using them is utterly, utterly pointless. 1776macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.
687 1777
688=back 1778=back
689 1779
1780=head3 Examples
1781
1782There are a number of principal ways to embed other event loops or modules
1783into libev. Here are some ideas on how to include libadns into libev
1784(there is a Perl module named C<EV::ADNS> that does this, which you could
1785use for an actually working example. Another Perl module named C<EV::Glib>
1786embeds a Glib main context into libev, and finally, C<Glib::EV> embeds EV
1787into the Glib event loop).
1788
1789Method 1: Add IO watchers and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler,
1790and in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows
1791is pseudo-code only of course. This requires you to either use a low
1792priority for the check watcher or use C<ev_clear_pending> explicitly, as
1793the callbacks for the IO/timeout watchers might not have been called yet.
1794
1795 static ev_io iow [nfd];
1796 static ev_timer tw;
1797
1798 static void
1799 io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
1800 {
1801 }
1802
1803 // create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
1804 static void
1805 adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
1806 {
1807 int timeout = 3600000;
1808 struct pollfd fds [nfd];
1809 // actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
1810 adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
1811
1812 /* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
1813 ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);
1814 ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);
1815
1816 // create one ev_io per pollfd
1817 for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1818 {
1819 ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,
1820 ((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)
1821 | (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));
1822
1823 fds [i].revents = 0;
1824 ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);
1825 }
1826 }
1827
1828 // stop all watchers after blocking
1829 static void
1830 adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)
1831 {
1832 ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);
1833
1834 for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1835 {
1836 // set the relevant poll flags
1837 // could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
1838 struct pollfd *fd = fds + i;
1839 int revents = ev_clear_pending (iow + i);
1840 if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
1841 if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
1842
1843 // now stop the watcher
1844 ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
1845 }
1846
1847 adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));
1848 }
1849
1850Method 2: This would be just like method 1, but you run C<adns_afterpoll>
1851in the prepare watcher and would dispose of the check watcher.
1852
1853Method 3: If the module to be embedded supports explicit event
1854notification (adns does), you can also make use of the actual watcher
1855callbacks, and only destroy/create the watchers in the prepare watcher.
1856
1857 static void
1858 timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1859 {
1860 adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
1861 update_now (EV_A);
1862
1863 adns_processtimeouts (ads, &tv_now);
1864 }
1865
1866 static void
1867 io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
1868 {
1869 adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
1870 update_now (EV_A);
1871
1872 if (revents & EV_READ ) adns_processreadable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
1873 if (revents & EV_WRITE) adns_processwriteable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
1874 }
1875
1876 // do not ever call adns_afterpoll
1877
1878Method 4: Do not use a prepare or check watcher because the module you
1879want to embed is too inflexible to support it. Instead, youc na override
1880their poll function. The drawback with this solution is that the main
1881loop is now no longer controllable by EV. The C<Glib::EV> module does
1882this.
1883
1884 static gint
1885 event_poll_func (GPollFD *fds, guint nfds, gint timeout)
1886 {
1887 int got_events = 0;
1888
1889 for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
1890 // create/start io watcher that sets the relevant bits in fds[n] and increment got_events
1891
1892 if (timeout >= 0)
1893 // create/start timer
1894
1895 // poll
1896 ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
1897
1898 // stop timer again
1899 if (timeout >= 0)
1900 ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &to);
1901
1902 // stop io watchers again - their callbacks should have set
1903 for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
1904 ev_io_stop (EV_A_ iow [n]);
1905
1906 return got_events;
1907 }
1908
1909
1910=head2 C<ev_embed> - when one backend isn't enough...
1911
1912This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop
1913into another (currently only C<ev_io> events are supported in the embedded
1914loop, other types of watchers might be handled in a delayed or incorrect
1915fashion and must not be used).
1916
1917There are primarily two reasons you would want that: work around bugs and
1918prioritise I/O.
1919
1920As an example for a bug workaround, the kqueue backend might only support
1921sockets on some platform, so it is unusable as generic backend, but you
1922still want to make use of it because you have many sockets and it scales
1923so nicely. In this case, you would create a kqueue-based loop and embed it
1924into your default loop (which might use e.g. poll). Overall operation will
1925be a bit slower because first libev has to poll and then call kevent, but
1926at least you can use both at what they are best.
1927
1928As for prioritising I/O: rarely you have the case where some fds have
1929to be watched and handled very quickly (with low latency), and even
1930priorities and idle watchers might have too much overhead. In this case
1931you would put all the high priority stuff in one loop and all the rest in
1932a second one, and embed the second one in the first.
1933
1934As long as the watcher is active, the callback will be invoked every time
1935there might be events pending in the embedded loop. The callback must then
1936call C<ev_embed_sweep (mainloop, watcher)> to make a single sweep and invoke
1937their callbacks (you could also start an idle watcher to give the embedded
1938loop strictly lower priority for example). You can also set the callback
1939to C<0>, in which case the embed watcher will automatically execute the
1940embedded loop sweep.
1941
1942As long as the watcher is started it will automatically handle events. The
1943callback will be invoked whenever some events have been handled. You can
1944set the callback to C<0> to avoid having to specify one if you are not
1945interested in that.
1946
1947Also, there have not currently been made special provisions for forking:
1948when you fork, you not only have to call C<ev_loop_fork> on both loops,
1949but you will also have to stop and restart any C<ev_embed> watchers
1950yourself.
1951
1952Unfortunately, not all backends are embeddable, only the ones returned by
1953C<ev_embeddable_backends> are, which, unfortunately, does not include any
1954portable one.
1955
1956So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared
1957that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around
1958this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to
1959create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything.
1960
1961=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1962
1963=over 4
1964
1965=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
1966
1967=item ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
1968
1969Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be
1970embeddable. If the callback is C<0>, then C<ev_embed_sweep> will be
1971invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback
1972to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,
1973if you do not want thta, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).
1974
1975=item ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)
1976
1977Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works
1978similarly to C<ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)>, but in the most
1979apropriate way for embedded loops.
1980
1981=item struct ev_loop *other [read-only]
1982
1983The embedded event loop.
1984
1985=back
1986
1987=head3 Examples
1988
1989Example: Try to get an embeddable event loop and embed it into the default
1990event loop. If that is not possible, use the default loop. The default
1991loop is stored in C<loop_hi>, while the mebeddable loop is stored in
1992C<loop_lo> (which is C<loop_hi> in the acse no embeddable loop can be
1993used).
1994
1995 struct ev_loop *loop_hi = ev_default_init (0);
1996 struct ev_loop *loop_lo = 0;
1997 struct ev_embed embed;
1998
1999 // see if there is a chance of getting one that works
2000 // (remember that a flags value of 0 means autodetection)
2001 loop_lo = ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ()
2002 ? ev_loop_new (ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_recommended_backends ())
2003 : 0;
2004
2005 // if we got one, then embed it, otherwise default to loop_hi
2006 if (loop_lo)
2007 {
2008 ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_lo);
2009 ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);
2010 }
2011 else
2012 loop_lo = loop_hi;
2013
2014Example: Check if kqueue is available but not recommended and create
2015a kqueue backend for use with sockets (which usually work with any
2016kqueue implementation). Store the kqueue/socket-only event loop in
2017C<loop_socket>. (One might optionally use C<EVFLAG_NOENV>, too).
2018
2019 struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
2020 struct ev_loop *loop_socket = 0;
2021 struct ev_embed embed;
2022
2023 if (ev_supported_backends () & ~ev_recommended_backends () & EVBACKEND_KQUEUE)
2024 if ((loop_socket = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_KQUEUE))
2025 {
2026 ev_embed_init (&embed, 0, loop_socket);
2027 ev_embed_start (loop, &embed);
2028 }
2029
2030 if (!loop_socket)
2031 loop_socket = loop;
2032
2033 // now use loop_socket for all sockets, and loop for everything else
2034
2035
2036=head2 C<ev_fork> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork
2037
2038Fork watchers are called when a C<fork ()> was detected (usually because
2039whoever is a good citizen cared to tell libev about it by calling
2040C<ev_default_fork> or C<ev_loop_fork>). The invocation is done before the
2041event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,
2042and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling
2043C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork
2044handlers will be invoked, too, of course.
2045
2046=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2047
2048=over 4
2049
2050=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)
2051
2052Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
2053kind. There is a C<ev_fork_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
2054believe me.
2055
2056=back
2057
2058
2059=head2 C<ev_async> - how to wake up another event loop
2060
2061In general, you cannot use an C<ev_loop> from multiple threads or other
2062asynchronous sources such as signal handlers (as opposed to multiple event
2063loops - those are of course safe to use in different threads).
2064
2065Sometimes, however, you need to wake up another event loop you do not
2066control, for example because it belongs to another thread. This is what
2067C<ev_async> watchers do: as long as the C<ev_async> watcher is active, you
2068can signal it by calling C<ev_async_send>, which is thread- and signal
2069safe.
2070
2071This functionality is very similar to C<ev_signal> watchers, as signals,
2072too, are asynchronous in nature, and signals, too, will be compressed
2073(i.e. the number of callback invocations may be less than the number of
2074C<ev_async_sent> calls).
2075
2076Unlike C<ev_signal> watchers, C<ev_async> works with any event loop, not
2077just the default loop.
2078
2079=head3 Queueing
2080
2081C<ev_async> does not support queueing of data in any way. The reason
2082is that the author does not know of a simple (or any) algorithm for a
2083multiple-writer-single-reader queue that works in all cases and doesn't
2084need elaborate support such as pthreads.
2085
2086That means that if you want to queue data, you have to provide your own
2087queue. But at least I can tell you would implement locking around your
2088queue:
2089
2090=over 4
2091
2092=item queueing from a signal handler context
2093
2094To implement race-free queueing, you simply add to the queue in the signal
2095handler but you block the signal handler in the watcher callback. Here is an example that does that for
2096some fictitiuous SIGUSR1 handler:
2097
2098 static ev_async mysig;
2099
2100 static void
2101 sigusr1_handler (void)
2102 {
2103 sometype data;
2104
2105 // no locking etc.
2106 queue_put (data);
2107 ev_async_send (DEFAULT_ &mysig);
2108 }
2109
2110 static void
2111 mysig_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
2112 {
2113 sometype data;
2114 sigset_t block, prev;
2115
2116 sigemptyset (&block);
2117 sigaddset (&block, SIGUSR1);
2118 sigprocmask (SIG_BLOCK, &block, &prev);
2119
2120 while (queue_get (&data))
2121 process (data);
2122
2123 if (sigismember (&prev, SIGUSR1)
2124 sigprocmask (SIG_UNBLOCK, &block, 0);
2125 }
2126
2127(Note: pthreads in theory requires you to use C<pthread_setmask>
2128instead of C<sigprocmask> when you use threads, but libev doesn't do it
2129either...).
2130
2131=item queueing from a thread context
2132
2133The strategy for threads is different, as you cannot (easily) block
2134threads but you can easily preempt them, so to queue safely you need to
2135employ a traditional mutex lock, such as in this pthread example:
2136
2137 static ev_async mysig;
2138 static pthread_mutex_t mymutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
2139
2140 static void
2141 otherthread (void)
2142 {
2143 // only need to lock the actual queueing operation
2144 pthread_mutex_lock (&mymutex);
2145 queue_put (data);
2146 pthread_mutex_unlock (&mymutex);
2147
2148 ev_async_send (DEFAULT_ &mysig);
2149 }
2150
2151 static void
2152 mysig_cb (EV_P_ ev_async *w, int revents)
2153 {
2154 pthread_mutex_lock (&mymutex);
2155
2156 while (queue_get (&data))
2157 process (data);
2158
2159 pthread_mutex_unlock (&mymutex);
2160 }
2161
2162=back
2163
2164
2165=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
2166
2167=over 4
2168
2169=item ev_async_init (ev_async *, callback)
2170
2171Initialises and configures the async watcher - it has no parameters of any
2172kind. There is a C<ev_asynd_set> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
2173believe me.
2174
2175=item ev_async_send (loop, ev_async *)
2176
2177Sends/signals/activates the given C<ev_async> watcher, that is, feeds
2178an C<EV_ASYNC> event on the watcher into the event loop. Unlike
2179C<ev_feed_event>, this call is safe to do in other threads, signal or
2180similar contexts (see the dicusssion of C<EV_ATOMIC_T> in the embedding
2181section below on what exactly this means).
2182
2183This call incurs the overhead of a syscall only once per loop iteration,
2184so while the overhead might be noticable, it doesn't apply to repeated
2185calls to C<ev_async_send>.
2186
2187=back
2188
2189
690=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS 2190=head1 OTHER FUNCTIONS
691 2191
692There are some other fucntions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now. 2192There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.
693 2193
694=over 4 2194=over 4
695 2195
696=item ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback) 2196=item ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)
697 2197
698This function combines a simple timer and an I/O watcher, calls your 2198This function combines a simple timer and an I/O watcher, calls your
699callback on whichever event happens first and automatically stop both 2199callback 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 2200watchers. 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 2201or timeout without having to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or
702more watchers yourself. 2202more watchers yourself.
703 2203
704If C<fd> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events is 2204If 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 2205is being ignored. Otherwise, an C<ev_io> watcher for the given C<fd> and
706will be craeted and started. 2206C<events> set will be craeted and started.
707 2207
708If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be 2208If C<timeout> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be
709started. Otherwise an ev_timer watcher with after = C<timeout> (and repeat 2209started. Otherwise an C<ev_timer> watcher with after = C<timeout> (and
710= 0) will be started. 2210repeat = 0) will be started. While C<0> is a valid timeout, it is of
2211dubious value.
711 2212
712The callback has the type C<void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)> and 2213The 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, 2214passed 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>: 2215C<EV_ERROR>, C<EV_READ>, C<EV_WRITE> or C<EV_TIMEOUT>) and the C<arg>
2216value passed to C<ev_once>:
715 2217
716 static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg) 2218 static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)
717 { 2219 {
718 if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT) 2220 if (revents & EV_TIMEOUT)
719 /* doh, nothing entered */ 2221 /* doh, nothing entered */;
720 else if (revents & EV_READ) 2222 else if (revents & EV_READ)
721 /* stdin might have data for us, joy! */ 2223 /* stdin might have data for us, joy! */;
722 } 2224 }
723 2225
724 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READm 10., stdin_ready, 0); 2226 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);
725 2227
726=item ev_feed_event (loop, watcher, int events) 2228=item ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)
727 2229
728Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event 2230Feeds 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 2231had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
730initialised but not necessarily active event watcher). 2232initialised but not necessarily started event watcher).
731 2233
732=item ev_feed_fd_event (loop, int fd, int revents) 2234=item ev_feed_fd_event (ev_loop *, int fd, int revents)
733 2235
734Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected it. 2236Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
2237the given events it.
735 2238
736=item ev_feed_signal_event (loop, int signum) 2239=item ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)
737 2240
738Feed an event as if the given signal occured (loop must be the default loop!). 2241Feed an event as if the given signal occured (C<loop> must be the default
2242loop!).
739 2243
740=back 2244=back
741 2245
2246
2247=head1 LIBEVENT EMULATION
2248
2249Libev offers a compatibility emulation layer for libevent. It cannot
2250emulate the internals of libevent, so here are some usage hints:
2251
2252=over 4
2253
2254=item * Use it by including <event.h>, as usual.
2255
2256=item * The following members are fully supported: ev_base, ev_callback,
2257ev_arg, ev_fd, ev_res, ev_events.
2258
2259=item * Avoid using ev_flags and the EVLIST_*-macros, while it is
2260maintained by libev, it does not work exactly the same way as in libevent (consider
2261it a private API).
2262
2263=item * Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities
2264will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there
2265is an ev_pri field.
2266
2267=item * Other members are not supported.
2268
2269=item * The libev emulation is I<not> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
2270to use the libev header file and library.
2271
2272=back
2273
2274=head1 C++ SUPPORT
2275
2276Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow
2277you to use some convinience methods to start/stop watchers and also change
2278the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.
2279
2280To use it,
2281
2282 #include <ev++.h>
2283
2284This automatically includes F<ev.h> and puts all of its definitions (many
2285of them macros) into the global namespace. All C++ specific things are
2286put into the C<ev> namespace. It should support all the same embedding
2287options as F<ev.h>, most notably C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>.
2288
2289Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the C++
2290classes add (compared to plain C-style watchers) is the event loop pointer
2291that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if
2292you disable C<EV_MULTIPLICITY> when embedding libev).
2293
2294Currently, functions, and static and non-static member functions can be
2295used as callbacks. Other types should be easy to add as long as they only
2296need one additional pointer for context. If you need support for other
2297types of functors please contact the author (preferably after implementing
2298it).
2299
2300Here is a list of things available in the C<ev> namespace:
2301
2302=over 4
2303
2304=item C<ev::READ>, C<ev::WRITE> etc.
2305
2306These are just enum values with the same values as the C<EV_READ> etc.
2307macros from F<ev.h>.
2308
2309=item C<ev::tstamp>, C<ev::now>
2310
2311Aliases to the same types/functions as with the C<ev_> prefix.
2312
2313=item C<ev::io>, C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic>, C<ev::idle>, C<ev::sig> etc.
2314
2315For each C<ev_TYPE> watcher in F<ev.h> there is a corresponding class of
2316the same name in the C<ev> namespace, with the exception of C<ev_signal>
2317which is called C<ev::sig> to avoid clashes with the C<signal> macro
2318defines by many implementations.
2319
2320All of those classes have these methods:
2321
2322=over 4
2323
2324=item ev::TYPE::TYPE ()
2325
2326=item ev::TYPE::TYPE (struct ev_loop *)
2327
2328=item ev::TYPE::~TYPE
2329
2330The constructor (optionally) takes an event loop to associate the watcher
2331with. If it is omitted, it will use C<EV_DEFAULT>.
2332
2333The constructor calls C<ev_init> for you, which means you have to call the
2334C<set> method before starting it.
2335
2336It will not set a callback, however: You have to call the templated C<set>
2337method to set a callback before you can start the watcher.
2338
2339(The reason why you have to use a method is a limitation in C++ which does
2340not allow explicit template arguments for constructors).
2341
2342The destructor automatically stops the watcher if it is active.
2343
2344=item w->set<class, &class::method> (object *)
2345
2346This method sets the callback method to call. The method has to have a
2347signature of C<void (*)(ev_TYPE &, int)>, it receives the watcher as
2348first argument and the C<revents> as second. The object must be given as
2349parameter and is stored in the C<data> member of the watcher.
2350
2351This method synthesizes efficient thunking code to call your method from
2352the C callback that libev requires. If your compiler can inline your
2353callback (i.e. it is visible to it at the place of the C<set> call and
2354your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the
2355thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.
2356
2357Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation
2358
2359 struct myclass
2360 {
2361 void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
2362 }
2363
2364 myclass obj;
2365 ev::io iow;
2366 iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);
2367
2368=item w->set<function> (void *data = 0)
2369
2370Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as
2371callback. The optional C<data> argument will be stored in the watcher's
2372C<data> member and is free for you to use.
2373
2374The prototype of the C<function> must be C<void (*)(ev::TYPE &w, int)>.
2375
2376See the method-C<set> above for more details.
2377
2378Example:
2379
2380 static void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
2381 iow.set <io_cb> ();
2382
2383=item w->set (struct ev_loop *)
2384
2385Associates a different C<struct ev_loop> with this watcher. You can only
2386do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).
2387
2388=item w->set ([args])
2389
2390Basically the same as C<ev_TYPE_set>, with the same args. Must be
2391called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets
2392automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this
2393method.
2394
2395=item w->start ()
2396
2397Starts the watcher. Note that there is no C<loop> argument, as the
2398constructor already stores the event loop.
2399
2400=item w->stop ()
2401
2402Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.
2403
2404=item w->again () (C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only)
2405
2406For C<ev::timer> and C<ev::periodic>, this invokes the corresponding
2407C<ev_TYPE_again> function.
2408
2409=item w->sweep () (C<ev::embed> only)
2410
2411Invokes C<ev_embed_sweep>.
2412
2413=item w->update () (C<ev::stat> only)
2414
2415Invokes C<ev_stat_stat>.
2416
2417=back
2418
2419=back
2420
2421Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in
2422the constructor.
2423
2424 class myclass
2425 {
2426 ev::io io; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);
2427 ev:idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);
2428
2429 myclass (int fd)
2430 {
2431 io .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb > (this);
2432 idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);
2433
2434 io.start (fd, ev::READ);
2435 }
2436 };
2437
2438
2439=head1 MACRO MAGIC
2440
2441Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundamantal
2442of which is C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines whether (most)
2443functions and callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument.
2444
2445To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
2446following macros are defined:
2447
2448=over 4
2449
2450=item C<EV_A>, C<EV_A_>
2451
2452This provides the loop I<argument> for functions, if one is required ("ev
2453loop argument"). The C<EV_A> form is used when this is the sole argument,
2454C<EV_A_> is used when other arguments are following. Example:
2455
2456 ev_unref (EV_A);
2457 ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);
2458 ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
2459
2460It assumes the variable C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *> is in scope,
2461which is often provided by the following macro.
2462
2463=item C<EV_P>, C<EV_P_>
2464
2465This provides the loop I<parameter> for functions, if one is required ("ev
2466loop parameter"). The C<EV_P> form is used when this is the sole parameter,
2467C<EV_P_> is used when other parameters are following. Example:
2468
2469 // this is how ev_unref is being declared
2470 static void ev_unref (EV_P);
2471
2472 // this is how you can declare your typical callback
2473 static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2474
2475It declares a parameter C<loop> of type C<struct ev_loop *>, quite
2476suitable for use with C<EV_A>.
2477
2478=item C<EV_DEFAULT>, C<EV_DEFAULT_>
2479
2480Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
2481loop, if multiple loops are supported ("ev loop default").
2482
2483=back
2484
2485Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above
2486macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported
2487or not.
2488
2489 static void
2490 check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2491 {
2492 ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);
2493 }
2494
2495 ev_check check;
2496 ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);
2497 ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);
2498 ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
2499
2500=head1 EMBEDDING
2501
2502Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
2503applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
2504Game Server, the EV perl module, the GNU Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)
2505and rxvt-unicode.
2506
2507The goal is to enable you to just copy the necessary files into your
2508source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so
2509you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of
2510libev somewhere in your source tree).
2511
2512=head2 FILESETS
2513
2514Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files
2515in your app.
2516
2517=head3 CORE EVENT LOOP
2518
2519To include only the libev core (all the C<ev_*> functions), with manual
2520configuration (no autoconf):
2521
2522 #define EV_STANDALONE 1
2523 #include "ev.c"
2524
2525This will automatically include F<ev.h>, too, and should be done in a
2526single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use
2527it, do the same for F<ev.h> in all files wishing to use this API (best
2528done by writing a wrapper around F<ev.h> that you can include instead and
2529where you can put other configuration options):
2530
2531 #define EV_STANDALONE 1
2532 #include "ev.h"
2533
2534Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++
2535compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated
2536as a bug).
2537
2538You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory
2539in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):
2540
2541 ev.h
2542 ev.c
2543 ev_vars.h
2544 ev_wrap.h
2545
2546 ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only
2547
2548 ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)
2549 ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2550 ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2551 ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2552 ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2553
2554F<ev.c> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need
2555to compile this single file.
2556
2557=head3 LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API
2558
2559To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:
2560
2561 #include "event.c"
2562
2563in the file including F<ev.c>, and:
2564
2565 #include "event.h"
2566
2567in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes F<ev.h>.
2568
2569You need the following additional files for this:
2570
2571 event.h
2572 event.c
2573
2574=head3 AUTOCONF SUPPORT
2575
2576Instead of using C<EV_STANDALONE=1> and providing your config in
2577whatever way you want, you can also C<m4_include([libev.m4])> in your
2578F<configure.ac> and leave C<EV_STANDALONE> undefined. F<ev.c> will then
2579include F<config.h> and configure itself accordingly.
2580
2581For this of course you need the m4 file:
2582
2583 libev.m4
2584
2585=head2 PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS
2586
2587Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to define
2588before including any of its files. The default is not to build for multiplicity
2589and only include the select backend.
2590
2591=over 4
2592
2593=item EV_STANDALONE
2594
2595Must always be C<1> if you do not use autoconf configuration, which
2596keeps libev from including F<config.h>, and it also defines dummy
2597implementations for some libevent functions (such as logging, which is not
2598supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in
2599F<event.h> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.
2600
2601=item EV_USE_MONOTONIC
2602
2603If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2604monotonic clock option at both compiletime and runtime. Otherwise no use
2605of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you
2606usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when
2607the functionality isn't available is safe, though, although you have
2608to make sure you link against any libraries where the C<clock_gettime>
2609function is hiding in (often F<-lrt>).
2610
2611=item EV_USE_REALTIME
2612
2613If defined to be C<1>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2614realtime clock option at compiletime (and assume its availability at
2615runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the realtime clock option will
2616be attempted. This effectively replaces C<gettimeofday> by C<clock_get
2617(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)> and will not normally affect correctness. See the
2618note about libraries in the description of C<EV_USE_MONOTONIC>, though.
2619
2620=item EV_USE_NANOSLEEP
2621
2622If defined to be C<1>, libev will assume that C<nanosleep ()> is available
2623and will use it for delays. Otherwise it will use C<select ()>.
2624
2625=item EV_USE_SELECT
2626
2627If undefined or defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the
2628C<select>(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no
2629other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend
2630will not be compiled in.
2631
2632=item EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET
2633
2634If defined to C<1>, then the select backend will use the system C<fd_set>
2635structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing
2636C<NFDBITS> or C<fd_mask> definition or it misguesses the bitset layout on
2637exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some
2638low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only
2639allows 64 sockets). The C<FD_SETSIZE> macro, set before compilation, might
2640influence the size of the C<fd_set> used.
2641
2642=item EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET
2643
2644When defined to C<1>, the select backend will assume that
2645select/socket/connect etc. don't understand file descriptors but
2646wants osf handles on win32 (this is the case when the select to
2647be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
2648C<_get_osfhandle> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,
2649it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
2650on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.
2651
2652=item EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE
2653
2654If C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> is enabled, then libev needs a way to map
2655file descriptors to socket handles. When not defining this symbol (the
2656default), then libev will call C<_get_osfhandle>, which is usually
2657correct. In some cases, programs use their own file descriptor management,
2658in which case they can provide this function to map fds to socket handles.
2659
2660=item EV_USE_POLL
2661
2662If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the C<poll>(2)
2663backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It
2664takes precedence over select.
2665
2666=item EV_USE_EPOLL
2667
2668If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux
2669C<epoll>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2670otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the
2671preferred backend for GNU/Linux systems.
2672
2673=item EV_USE_KQUEUE
2674
2675If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style
2676C<kqueue>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,
2677otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2678backend for BSD and BSD-like systems, although on most BSDs kqueue only
2679supports some types of fds correctly (the only platform we found that
2680supports ptys for example was NetBSD), so kqueue might be compiled in, but
2681not be used unless explicitly requested. The best way to use it is to find
2682out whether kqueue supports your type of fd properly and use an embedded
2683kqueue loop.
2684
2685=item EV_USE_PORT
2686
2687If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Solaris
268810 port style backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2689otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2690backend for Solaris 10 systems.
2691
2692=item EV_USE_DEVPOLL
2693
2694reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.
2695
2696=item EV_USE_INOTIFY
2697
2698If defined to be C<1>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
2699interface to speed up C<ev_stat> watchers. Its actual availability will
2700be detected at runtime.
2701
2702=item EV_ATOMIC_T
2703
2704Libev requires an integer type (suitable for storing C<0> or C<1>) whose
2705access is atomic with respect to other threads or signal contexts. No such
2706type is easily found in the C language, so you can provide your own type
2707that you know is safe for your purposes. It is used both for signal handler "locking"
2708as well as for signal and thread safety in C<ev_async> watchers.
2709
2710In the absense of this define, libev will use C<sig_atomic_t volatile>
2711(from F<signal.h>), which is usually good enough on most platforms.
2712
2713=item EV_H
2714
2715The name of the F<ev.h> header file used to include it. The default if
2716undefined is C<"ev.h"> in F<event.h>, F<ev.c> and F<ev++.h>. This can be
2717used to virtually rename the F<ev.h> header file in case of conflicts.
2718
2719=item EV_CONFIG_H
2720
2721If C<EV_STANDALONE> isn't C<1>, this variable can be used to override
2722F<ev.c>'s idea of where to find the F<config.h> file, similarly to
2723C<EV_H>, above.
2724
2725=item EV_EVENT_H
2726
2727Similarly to C<EV_H>, this macro can be used to override F<event.c>'s idea
2728of how the F<event.h> header can be found, the default is C<"event.h">.
2729
2730=item EV_PROTOTYPES
2731
2732If defined to be C<0>, then F<ev.h> will not define any function
2733prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is
2734occasionally useful if you want to provide your own wrapper functions
2735around libev functions.
2736
2737=item EV_MULTIPLICITY
2738
2739If undefined or defined to C<1>, then all event-loop-specific functions
2740will have the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument, and you can create
2741additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support
2742for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer
2743argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.
2744
2745=item EV_MINPRI
2746
2747=item EV_MAXPRI
2748
2749The range of allowed priorities. C<EV_MINPRI> must be smaller or equal to
2750C<EV_MAXPRI>, but otherwise there are no non-obvious limitations. You can
2751provide for more priorities by overriding those symbols (usually defined
2752to be C<-2> and C<2>, respectively).
2753
2754When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search
2755all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space
2756and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (-2 .. +2) is usually
2757fine.
2758
2759If your embedding app does not need any priorities, defining these both to
2760C<0> will save some memory and cpu.
2761
2762=item EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE
2763
2764If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then periodic timers are supported. If
2765defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2766code.
2767
2768=item EV_IDLE_ENABLE
2769
2770If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then idle watchers are supported. If
2771defined to be C<0>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2772code.
2773
2774=item EV_EMBED_ENABLE
2775
2776If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then embed watchers are supported. If
2777defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2778
2779=item EV_STAT_ENABLE
2780
2781If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then stat watchers are supported. If
2782defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2783
2784=item EV_FORK_ENABLE
2785
2786If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then fork watchers are supported. If
2787defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2788
2789=item EV_ASYNC_ENABLE
2790
2791If undefined or defined to be C<1>, then async watchers are supported. If
2792defined to be C<0>, then they are not.
2793
2794=item EV_MINIMAL
2795
2796If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some
2797speed, define this symbol to C<1>. Currently only used for gcc to override
2798some inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% codesize of amd64.
2799
2800=item EV_PID_HASHSIZE
2801
2802C<ev_child> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2803pid. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>), usually more
2804than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to
2805increase this value (I<must> be a power of two).
2806
2807=item EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE
2808
2809C<ev_stat> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2810inotify watch id. The default size is C<16> (or C<1> with C<EV_MINIMAL>),
2811usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of C<ev_stat>
2812watchers you might want to increase this value (I<must> be a power of
2813two).
2814
2815=item EV_COMMON
2816
2817By default, all watchers have a C<void *data> member. By redefining
2818this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of
2819members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
2820though, and it must be identical each time.
2821
2822For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:
2823
2824 #define EV_COMMON \
2825 SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \
2826 SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing ";" */
2827
2828=item EV_CB_DECLARE (type)
2829
2830=item EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)
2831
2832=item ev_set_cb (ev, cb)
2833
2834Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,
2835and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member
2836definition and a statement, respectively. See the F<ev.h> header file for
2837their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to
2838avoid the C<struct ev_loop *> as first argument in all cases, or to use
2839method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.
2840
2841=head2 EXPORTED API SYMBOLS
2842
2843If you need to re-export the API (e.g. via a dll) and you need a list of
2844exported symbols, you can use the provided F<Symbol.*> files which list
2845all public symbols, one per line:
2846
2847 Symbols.ev for libev proper
2848 Symbols.event for the libevent emulation
2849
2850This can also be used to rename all public symbols to avoid clashes with
2851multiple versions of libev linked together (which is obviously bad in
2852itself, but sometimes it is inconvinient to avoid this).
2853
2854A sed command like this will create wrapper C<#define>'s that you need to
2855include before including F<ev.h>:
2856
2857 <Symbols.ev sed -e "s/.*/#define & myprefix_&/" >wrap.h
2858
2859This would create a file F<wrap.h> which essentially looks like this:
2860
2861 #define ev_backend myprefix_ev_backend
2862 #define ev_check_start myprefix_ev_check_start
2863 #define ev_check_stop myprefix_ev_check_stop
2864 ...
2865
2866=head2 EXAMPLES
2867
2868For a real-world example of a program the includes libev
2869verbatim, you can have a look at the EV perl module
2870(L<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV.html>). It has the libev files in
2871the F<libev/> subdirectory and includes them in the F<EV/EVAPI.h> (public
2872interface) and F<EV.xs> (implementation) files. Only the F<EV.xs> file
2873will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header
2874file.
2875
2876The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a F<ev_cpp.h> header file
2877that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:
2878
2879 #define EV_MINIMAL 1
2880 #define EV_USE_POLL 0
2881 #define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
2882 #define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0
2883 #define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0
2884 #define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0
2885 #define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>
2886 #define EV_MINPRI 0
2887 #define EV_MAXPRI 0
2888
2889 #include "ev++.h"
2890
2891And a F<ev_cpp.C> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:
2892
2893 #include "ev_cpp.h"
2894 #include "ev.c"
2895
2896
2897=head1 COMPLEXITIES
2898
2899In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
2900libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the
2901documentation for C<ev_default_init>.
2902
2903All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be
2904extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this
2905happens asymptotically never with higher number of elements, so O(1) might
2906mean it might do a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on average
2907it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.
2908
2909=over 4
2910
2911=item Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)
2912
2913This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and
2914there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that then inserting will
2915have to skip roughly seven (C<ld 100>) of these watchers.
2916
2917=item Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat or calling again): O(log skipped_other_timers)
2918
2919That means that changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them
2920as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.
2921
2922=item Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child/fork/async watchers: O(1)
2923
2924These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.
2925
2926=item Stopping check/prepare/idle/fork/async watchers: O(1)
2927
2928=item Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))
2929
2930These watchers are stored in lists then need to be walked to find the
2931correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually
2932have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal).
2933
2934=item Finding the next timer in each loop iteration: O(1)
2935
2936By virtue of using a binary heap, the next timer is always found at the
2937beginning of the storage array.
2938
2939=item Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)
2940
2941A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires
2942libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel, depending
2943on backend and wether C<ev_io_set> was used).
2944
2945=item Activating one watcher (putting it into the pending state): O(1)
2946
2947=item Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)
2948
2949Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each
2950priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to
2951linearly search all the priorities, but starting/stopping and activating
2952watchers becomes O(1) w.r.t. priority handling.
2953
2954=item Sending an ev_async: O(1)
2955
2956=item Processing ev_async_send: O(number_of_async_watchers)
2957
2958=item Processing signals: O(max_signal_number)
2959
2960Sending involves a syscall I<iff> there were no other C<ev_async_send>
2961calls in the current loop iteration. Checking for async and signal events
2962involves iterating over all running async watchers or all signal numbers.
2963
2964=back
2965
2966
2967=head1 Win32 platform limitations and workarounds
2968
2969Win32 doesn't support any of the standards (e.g. POSIX) that libev
2970requires, and its I/O model is fundamentally incompatible with the POSIX
2971model. Libev still offers limited functionality on this platform in
2972the form of the C<EVBACKEND_SELECT> backend, and only supports socket
2973descriptors. This only applies when using Win32 natively, not when using
2974e.g. cygwin.
2975
2976There is no supported compilation method available on windows except
2977embedding it into other applications.
2978
2979Due to the many, low, and arbitrary limits on the win32 platform and the
2980abysmal performance of winsockets, using a large number of sockets is not
2981recommended (and not reasonable). If your program needs to use more than
2982a hundred or so sockets, then likely it needs to use a totally different
2983implementation for windows, as libev offers the POSIX model, which cannot
2984be implemented efficiently on windows (microsoft monopoly games).
2985
2986=over 4
2987
2988=item The winsocket select function
2989
2990The winsocket C<select> function doesn't follow POSIX in that it requires
2991socket I<handles> and not socket I<file descriptors>. This makes select
2992very inefficient, and also requires a mapping from file descriptors
2993to socket handles. See the discussion of the C<EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET>,
2994C<EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET> and C<EV_FD_TO_WIN32_HANDLE> preprocessor
2995symbols for more info.
2996
2997The configuration for a "naked" win32 using the microsoft runtime
2998libraries and raw winsocket select is:
2999
3000 #define EV_USE_SELECT 1
3001 #define EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET 1 /* forces EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET, too */
3002
3003Note that winsockets handling of fd sets is O(n), so you can easily get a
3004complexity in the O(n²) range when using win32.
3005
3006=item Limited number of file descriptors
3007
3008Windows has numerous arbitrary (and low) limits on things. Early versions
3009of winsocket's select only supported waiting for a max. of C<64> handles
3010(probably owning to the fact that all windows kernels can only wait for
3011C<64> things at the same time internally; microsoft recommends spawning a
3012chain of threads and wait for 63 handles and the previous thread in each).
3013
3014Newer versions support more handles, but you need to define C<FD_SETSIZE>
3015to some high number (e.g. C<2048>) before compiling the winsocket select
3016call (which might be in libev or elsewhere, for example, perl does its own
3017select emulation on windows).
3018
3019Another limit is the number of file descriptors in the microsoft runtime
3020libraries, which by default is C<64> (there must be a hidden I<64> fetish
3021or something like this inside microsoft). You can increase this by calling
3022C<_setmaxstdio>, which can increase this limit to C<2048> (another
3023arbitrary limit), but is broken in many versions of the microsoft runtime
3024libraries.
3025
3026This might get you to about C<512> or C<2048> sockets (depending on
3027windows version and/or the phase of the moon). To get more, you need to
3028wrap all I/O functions and provide your own fd management, but the cost of
3029calling select (O(n²)) will likely make this unworkable.
3030
3031=back
3032
3033
742=head1 AUTHOR 3034=head1 AUTHOR
743 3035
744Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>. 3036Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>.
745 3037

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