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Revision 1.80 by root, Sun Dec 9 19:47:30 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.86 by root, Tue Dec 18 01:20:33 2007 UTC

98Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the 98Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the
99(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near 99(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near
100the 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
101called 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
102to the C<double> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on 102to the C<double> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on
103it, you should treat it as such. 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.
104 106
105=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS 107=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
106 108
107These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the 109These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the
108library in any way. 110library in any way.
911play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test 913play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test
912whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface 914whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
913such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on 915such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on
914its own, so its quite safe to use). 916its own, so its quite safe to use).
915 917
918=head3 The special problem of disappearing file descriptors
919
920Some backends (e.g kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file
921descriptor (either by calling C<close> explicitly or by any other means,
922such as C<dup>). The reason is that you register interest in some file
923descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop
924this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is
925registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in
926fact, a different file descriptor.
927
928To avoid having to explicitly tell libev about such cases, libev follows
929the following policy: Each time C<ev_io_set> is being called, libev
930will assume that this is potentially a new file descriptor, otherwise
931it is assumed that the file descriptor stays the same. That means that
932you I<have> to call C<ev_io_set> (or C<ev_io_init>) when you change the
933descriptor even if the file descriptor number itself did not change.
934
935This is how one would do it normally anyway, the important point is that
936the libev application should not optimise around libev but should leave
937optimisations to libev.
938
939
940=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions
941
916=over 4 942=over 4
917 943
918=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events) 944=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)
919 945
920=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events) 946=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)
972 ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.); 998 ev_timer_set (&timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);
973 999
974The callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when its timeout has passed, 1000The callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when its timeout has passed,
975but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then 1001but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then
976order of execution is undefined. 1002order of execution is undefined.
1003
1004=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
977 1005
978=over 4 1006=over 4
979 1007
980=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat) 1008=item ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)
981 1009
1087 1115
1088As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the 1116As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the
1089time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready 1117time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
1090during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined. 1118during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.
1091 1119
1120=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1121
1092=over 4 1122=over 4
1093 1123
1094=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb) 1124=item ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)
1095 1125
1096=item ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb) 1126=item ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)
1191=item ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read-write] 1221=item ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read-write]
1192 1222
1193The current reschedule callback, or C<0>, if this functionality is 1223The current reschedule callback, or C<0>, if this functionality is
1194switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when 1224switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
1195the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called. 1225the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1226
1227=item ev_tstamp at [read-only]
1228
1229When active, contains the absolute time that the watcher is supposed to
1230trigger next.
1196 1231
1197=back 1232=back
1198 1233
1199Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the 1234Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
1200system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have 1235system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
1242with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long 1277with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long
1243as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal 1278as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal
1244watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to 1279watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to
1245SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before). 1280SIG_DFL (regardless of what it was set to before).
1246 1281
1282=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1283
1247=over 4 1284=over 4
1248 1285
1249=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum) 1286=item ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)
1250 1287
1251=item ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum) 1288=item ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)
1262 1299
1263=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes 1300=head2 C<ev_child> - watch out for process status changes
1264 1301
1265Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to 1302Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to
1266some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies). 1303some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).
1304
1305=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1267 1306
1268=over 4 1307=over 4
1269 1308
1270=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid) 1309=item ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)
1271 1310
1339reader). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should not change the 1378reader). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should not change the
1340semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers, which means that libev sometimes needs 1379semantics of C<ev_stat> watchers, which means that libev sometimes needs
1341to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify, but changes are 1380to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify, but changes are
1342usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there will be no 1381usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there will be no
1343polling. 1382polling.
1383
1384=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1344 1385
1345=over 4 1386=over 4
1346 1387
1347=item ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval) 1388=item ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)
1348 1389
1431Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful 1472Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful
1432effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do 1473effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do
1433"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the 1474"pseudo-background processing", or delay processing stuff to after the
1434event loop has handled all outstanding events. 1475event loop has handled all outstanding events.
1435 1476
1477=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1478
1436=over 4 1479=over 4
1437 1480
1438=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback) 1481=item ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)
1439 1482
1440Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any 1483Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any
1507their job. As C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other event 1550their job. As C<ev_check> watchers are often used to embed other event
1508loops those other event loops might be in an unusable state until their 1551loops those other event loops might be in an unusable state until their
1509C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to coexist peacefully with 1552C<ev_check> watcher ran (always remind yourself to coexist peacefully with
1510others). 1553others).
1511 1554
1555=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1556
1512=over 4 1557=over 4
1513 1558
1514=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback) 1559=item ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)
1515 1560
1516=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback) 1561=item ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)
1717 ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed); 1762 ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);
1718 } 1763 }
1719 else 1764 else
1720 loop_lo = loop_hi; 1765 loop_lo = loop_hi;
1721 1766
1767=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1768
1722=over 4 1769=over 4
1723 1770
1724=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop) 1771=item ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
1725 1772
1726=item ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop) 1773=item ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)
1752event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called, 1799event loop blocks next and before C<ev_check> watchers are being called,
1753and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling 1800and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling
1754C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork 1801C<ev_default_fork> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork
1755handlers will be invoked, too, of course. 1802handlers will be invoked, too, of course.
1756 1803
1804=head3 Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members
1805
1757=over 4 1806=over 4
1758 1807
1759=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback) 1808=item ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)
1760 1809
1761Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any 1810Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
1977 2026
1978=item w->stop () 2027=item w->stop ()
1979 2028
1980Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument. 2029Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no C<loop> argument.
1981 2030
1982=item w->again () C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only 2031=item w->again () (C<ev::timer>, C<ev::periodic> only)
1983 2032
1984For C<ev::timer> and C<ev::periodic>, this invokes the corresponding 2033For C<ev::timer> and C<ev::periodic>, this invokes the corresponding
1985C<ev_TYPE_again> function. 2034C<ev_TYPE_again> function.
1986 2035
1987=item w->sweep () C<ev::embed> only 2036=item w->sweep () (C<ev::embed> only)
1988 2037
1989Invokes C<ev_embed_sweep>. 2038Invokes C<ev_embed_sweep>.
1990 2039
1991=item w->update () C<ev::stat> only 2040=item w->update () (C<ev::stat> only)
1992 2041
1993Invokes C<ev_stat_stat>. 2042Invokes C<ev_stat_stat>.
1994 2043
1995=back 2044=back
1996 2045
2016 } 2065 }
2017 2066
2018 2067
2019=head1 MACRO MAGIC 2068=head1 MACRO MAGIC
2020 2069
2021Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundemantal is 2070Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundamantal
2022C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines whether (most) functions and 2071of which is C<EV_MULTIPLICITY>. This option determines whether (most)
2023callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument. 2072functions and callbacks have an initial C<struct ev_loop *> argument.
2024 2073
2025To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the 2074To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
2026following macros are defined: 2075following macros are defined:
2027 2076
2028=over 4 2077=over 4

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