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Comparing libev/ev.pod (file contents):
Revision 1.77 by root, Sat Dec 8 22:11:14 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.81 by root, Wed Dec 12 04:53:58 2007 UTC

117 117
118=item int ev_version_major () 118=item int ev_version_major ()
119 119
120=item int ev_version_minor () 120=item int ev_version_minor ()
121 121
122You can find out the major and minor version numbers of the library 122You can find out the major and minor ABI version numbers of the library
123you linked against by calling the functions C<ev_version_major> and 123you linked against by calling the functions C<ev_version_major> and
124C<ev_version_minor>. If you want, you can compare against the global 124C<ev_version_minor>. If you want, you can compare against the global
125symbols C<EV_VERSION_MAJOR> and C<EV_VERSION_MINOR>, which specify the 125symbols C<EV_VERSION_MAJOR> and C<EV_VERSION_MINOR>, which specify the
126version of the library your program was compiled against. 126version of the library your program was compiled against.
127 127
128These version numbers refer to the ABI version of the library, not the
129release version.
130
128Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch, 131Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch,
129as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually 132as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
130compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually 133compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually
131not a problem. 134not a problem.
132 135
133Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong 136Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
134version. 137version.
908play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test 911play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test
909whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface 912whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
910such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on 913such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on
911its own, so its quite safe to use). 914its own, so its quite safe to use).
912 915
916=head3 The special problem of disappearing file descriptors
917
918Some backends (e.g kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file
919descriptor (either by calling C<close> explicitly or by any other means,
920such as C<dup>). The reason is that you register interest in some file
921descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop
922this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is
923registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in
924fact, a different file descriptor.
925
926To avoid having to explicitly tell libev about such cases, libev follows
927the following policy: Each time C<ev_io_set> is being called, libev
928will assume that this is potentially a new file descriptor, otherwise
929it is assumed that the file descriptor stays the same. That means that
930you I<have> to call C<ev_io_set> (or C<ev_io_init>) when you change the
931descriptor even if the file descriptor number itself did not change.
932
933This is how one would do it normally anyway, the important point is that
934the libev application should not optimise around libev but should leave
935optimisations to libev.
936
937
913=over 4 938=over 4
914 939
915=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events) 940=item ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)
916 941
917=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events) 942=item ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)
1074but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher 1099but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher
1075to trigger "at" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a 1100to trigger "at" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a
1076periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. C<ev_now () 1101periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. C<ev_now ()
1077+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will 1102+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will
1078take a year to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would trigger 1103take a year to trigger the event (unlike an C<ev_timer>, which would trigger
1079roughly 10 seconds later and of course not if you reset your system time 1104roughly 10 seconds later).
1080again).
1081 1105
1082They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as 1106They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as
1083triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time. 1107triggering an event on each midnight, local time or other, complicated,
1108rules.
1084 1109
1085As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the 1110As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the
1086time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready 1111time (C<at>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
1087during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined. 1112during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.
1088 1113
1095Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of 1120Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of
1096operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex: 1121operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:
1097 1122
1098=over 4 1123=over 4
1099 1124
1100=item * absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0) 1125=item * absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)
1101 1126
1102In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time 1127In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time
1103C<at> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs, 1128C<at> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs,
1104that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the 1129that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the
1105system time reaches or surpasses this time. 1130system time reaches or surpasses this time.
1106 1131
1107=item * non-repeating interval timer (interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0) 1132=item * non-repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)
1108 1133
1109In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next 1134In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next
1110C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N) and then repeat, regardless 1135C<at + N * interval> time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)
1111of any time jumps. 1136and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps.
1112 1137
1113This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system 1138This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system
1114time: 1139time:
1115 1140
1116 ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0); 1141 ev_periodic_set (&periodic, 0., 3600., 0);
1122 1147
1123Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that 1148Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
1124C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible 1149C<ev_periodic> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
1125time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps. 1150time where C<time = at (mod interval)>, regardless of any time jumps.
1126 1151
1152For numerical stability it is preferable that the C<at> value is near
1153C<ev_now ()> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
1154this value.
1155
1127=item * manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback) 1156=item * manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)
1128 1157
1129In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being 1158In this mode the values for C<interval> and C<at> are both being
1130ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the 1159ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
1131reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the 1160reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
1132current time as second argument. 1161current time as second argument.
1133 1162
1134NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher, 1163NOTE: I<This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,
1135ever, or make any event loop modifications>. If you need to stop it, 1164ever, or make any event loop modifications>. If you need to stop it,
1136return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by 1165return C<now + 1e30> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
1137starting a prepare watcher). 1166starting an C<ev_prepare> watcher, which is legal).
1138 1167
1139Its prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, 1168Its prototype is C<ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,
1140ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.: 1169ev_tstamp now)>, e.g.:
1141 1170
1142 static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) 1171 static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1164 1193
1165Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful 1194Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
1166when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return 1195when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return
1167a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like 1196a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
1168program when the crontabs have changed). 1197program when the crontabs have changed).
1198
1199=item ev_tstamp offset [read-write]
1200
1201When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
1202absolute point in time (the C<at> value passed to C<ev_periodic_set>).
1203
1204Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
1205timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being called.
1169 1206
1170=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write] 1207=item ev_tstamp interval [read-write]
1171 1208
1172The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only 1209The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1173take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being 1210take effect when the periodic timer fires or C<ev_periodic_again> is being

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