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NAME
gen_fsm - Generic Finite State Machine Behaviour
DESCRIPTION
A behaviour module for implementing a finite state machine. A generic finite state machine
process (gen_fsm) implemented using this module will have a standard set of interface
functions and include functionality for tracing and error reporting. It will also fit into
an OTP supervision tree. Refer to OTP Design Principles for more information.
A gen_fsm assumes all specific parts to be located in a callback module exporting a pre-
defined set of functions. The relationship between the behaviour functions and the
callback functions can be illustrated as follows:
gen_fsm module Callback module
-------------- ---------------
gen_fsm:start
gen_fsm:start_link -----> Module:init/1
gen_fsm:stop -----> Module:terminate/3
gen_fsm:send_event -----> Module:StateName/2
gen_fsm:send_all_state_event -----> Module:handle_event/3
gen_fsm:sync_send_event -----> Module:StateName/3
gen_fsm:sync_send_all_state_event -----> Module:handle_sync_event/4
- -----> Module:handle_info/3
- -----> Module:terminate/3
- -----> Module:code_change/4
If a callback function fails or returns a bad value, the gen_fsm will terminate.
A gen_fsm handles system messages as documented in sys(3erl). The sys module can be used
for debugging a gen_fsm.
Note that a gen_fsm does not trap exit signals automatically, this must be explicitly
initiated in the callback module.
Unless otherwise stated, all functions in this module fail if the specified gen_fsm does
not exist or if bad arguments are given.
The gen_fsm process can go into hibernation (see erlang(3erl)) if a callback function
specifies 'hibernate' instead of a timeout value. This might be useful if the server is
expected to be idle for a long time. However this feature should be used with care as
hibernation implies at least two garbage collections (when hibernating and shortly after
waking up) and is not something you'd want to do between each call to a busy state
machine.
EXPORTS
start_link(Module, Args, Options) -> Result
start_link(FsmName, Module, Args, Options) -> Result
Types:
FsmName = {local,Name} | {global,GlobalName} | {via,Module,ViaName}
Name = atom()
GlobalName = ViaName = term()
Module = atom()
Args = term()
Options = [Option]
Option = {debug,Dbgs} | {timeout,Time} | {spawn_opt,SOpts}
Dbgs = [Dbg]
Dbg = trace | log | statistics
| {log_to_file,FileName} | {install,{Func,FuncState}}
SOpts = [SOpt]
SOpt - see erlang:spawn_opt/2,3,4,5
Result = {ok,Pid} | ignore | {error,Error}
Pid = pid()
Error = {already_started,Pid} | term()
Creates a gen_fsm process as part of a supervision tree. The function should be
called, directly or indirectly, by the supervisor. It will, among other things,
ensure that the gen_fsm is linked to the supervisor.
The gen_fsm process calls Module:init/1 to initialize. To ensure a synchronized
start-up procedure, start_link/3,4 does not return until Module:init/1 has
returned.
If FsmName={local,Name}, the gen_fsm is registered locally as Name using
register/2. If FsmName={global,GlobalName}, the gen_fsm is registered globally as
GlobalName using global:register_name/2. If FsmName={via,Module,ViaName}, the
gen_fsm will register with the registry represented by Module. The Module callback
should export the functions register_name/2, unregister_name/1, whereis_name/1 and
send/2, which should behave like the corresponding functions in global. Thus,
{via,global,GlobalName} is a valid reference.
If no name is provided, the gen_fsm is not registered.
Module is the name of the callback module.
Args is an arbitrary term which is passed as the argument to Module:init/1.
If the option {timeout,Time} is present, the gen_fsm is allowed to spend Time
milliseconds initializing or it will be terminated and the start function will
return {error,timeout}.
If the option {debug,Dbgs} is present, the corresponding sys function will be
called for each item in Dbgs. See sys(3erl).
If the option {spawn_opt,SOpts} is present, SOpts will be passed as option list to
the spawn_opt BIF which is used to spawn the gen_fsm process. See erlang(3erl).
Note:
Using the spawn option monitor is currently not allowed, but will cause the
function to fail with reason badarg.
If the gen_fsm is successfully created and initialized the function returns
{ok,Pid}, where Pid is the pid of the gen_fsm. If there already exists a process
with the specified FsmName, the function returns {error,{already_started,Pid}}
where Pid is the pid of that process.
If Module:init/1 fails with Reason, the function returns {error,Reason}. If
Module:init/1 returns {stop,Reason} or ignore, the process is terminated and the
function returns {error,Reason} or ignore, respectively.
start(Module, Args, Options) -> Result
start(FsmName, Module, Args, Options) -> Result
Types:
FsmName = {local,Name} | {global,GlobalName} | {via,Module,ViaName}
Name = atom()
GlobalName = ViaName = term()
Module = atom()
Args = term()
Options = [Option]
Option = {debug,Dbgs} | {timeout,Time} | {spawn_opt,SOpts}
Dbgs = [Dbg]
Dbg = trace | log | statistics
| {log_to_file,FileName} | {install,{Func,FuncState}}
SOpts = [term()]
Result = {ok,Pid} | ignore | {error,Error}
Pid = pid()
Error = {already_started,Pid} | term()
Creates a stand-alone gen_fsm process, i.e. a gen_fsm which is not part of a
supervision tree and thus has no supervisor.
See start_link/3,4 for a description of arguments and return values.
stop(FsmRef) -> ok
stop(FsmRef, Reason, Timeout) -> ok
Types:
FsmRef = Name | {Name,Node} | {global,GlobalName} | {via,Module,ViaName} | pid()
Node = atom()
GlobalName = ViaName = term()
Reason = term()
Timeout = int()>0 | infinity
Orders a generic FSM to exit with the given Reason and waits for it to terminate.
The gen_fsm will call Module:terminate/3 before exiting.
The function returns ok if the generic FSM terminates with the expected reason. Any
other reason than normal, shutdown, or {shutdown,Term} will cause an error report
to be issued using error_logger:format/2. The default Reason is normal.
Timeout is an integer greater than zero which specifies how many milliseconds to
wait for the generic FSM to terminate, or the atom infinity to wait indefinitely.
The default value is infinity. If the generic FSM has not terminated within the
specified time, a timeout exception is raised.
If the process does not exist, a noproc exception is raised.
send_event(FsmRef, Event) -> ok
Types:
FsmRef = Name | {Name,Node} | {global,GlobalName} | {via,Module,ViaName} | pid()
Name = Node = atom()
GlobalName = ViaName = term()
Event = term()
Sends an event asynchronously to the gen_fsm FsmRef and returns ok immediately. The
gen_fsm will call Module:StateName/2 to handle the event, where StateName is the
name of the current state of the gen_fsm.
FsmRef can be:
* the pid,
* Name, if the gen_fsm is locally registered,
* {Name,Node}, if the gen_fsm is locally registered at another node, or
* {global,GlobalName}, if the gen_fsm is globally registered.
* {via,Module,ViaName}, if the gen_fsm is registered through an alternative
process registry.
Event is an arbitrary term which is passed as one of the arguments to
Module:StateName/2.
send_all_state_event(FsmRef, Event) -> ok
Types:
FsmRef = Name | {Name,Node} | {global,GlobalName} | {via,Module,ViaName} | pid()
Name = Node = atom()
GlobalName = ViaName = term()
Event = term()
Sends an event asynchronously to the gen_fsm FsmRef and returns ok immediately. The
gen_fsm will call Module:handle_event/3 to handle the event.
See send_event/2 for a description of the arguments.
The difference between send_event and send_all_state_event is which callback
function is used to handle the event. This function is useful when sending events
that are handled the same way in every state, as only one handle_event clause is
needed to handle the event instead of one clause in each state name function.
sync_send_event(FsmRef, Event) -> Reply
sync_send_event(FsmRef, Event, Timeout) -> Reply
Types:
FsmRef = Name | {Name,Node} | {global,GlobalName} | {via,Module,ViaName} | pid()
Name = Node = atom()
GlobalName = ViaName = term()
Event = term()
Timeout = int()>0 | infinity
Reply = term()
Sends an event to the gen_fsm FsmRef and waits until a reply arrives or a timeout
occurs. The gen_fsm will call Module:StateName/3 to handle the event, where
StateName is the name of the current state of the gen_fsm.
See send_event/2 for a description of FsmRef and Event.
Timeout is an integer greater than zero which specifies how many milliseconds to
wait for a reply, or the atom infinity to wait indefinitely. Default value is 5000.
If no reply is received within the specified time, the function call fails.
The return value Reply is defined in the return value of Module:StateName/3.
The ancient behaviour of sometimes consuming the server exit message if the server
died during the call while linked to the client has been removed in OTP R12B/Erlang
5.6.
sync_send_all_state_event(FsmRef, Event) -> Reply
sync_send_all_state_event(FsmRef, Event, Timeout) -> Reply
Types:
FsmRef = Name | {Name,Node} | {global,GlobalName} | {via,Module,ViaName} | pid()
Name = Node = atom()
GlobalName = ViaName = term()
Event = term()
Timeout = int()>0 | infinity
Reply = term()
Sends an event to the gen_fsm FsmRef and waits until a reply arrives or a timeout
occurs. The gen_fsm will call Module:handle_sync_event/4 to handle the event.
See send_event/2 for a description of FsmRef and Event. See sync_send_event/3 for a
description of Timeout and Reply.
See send_all_state_event/2 for a discussion about the difference between
sync_send_event and sync_send_all_state_event.
reply(Caller, Reply) -> Result
Types:
Caller - see below
Reply = term()
Result = term()
This function can be used by a gen_fsm to explicitly send a reply to a client
process that called sync_send_event/2,3 or sync_send_all_state_event/2,3, when the
reply cannot be defined in the return value of Module:State/3 or
Module:handle_sync_event/4.
Caller must be the From argument provided to the callback function. Reply is an
arbitrary term, which will be given back to the client as the return value of
sync_send_event/2,3 or sync_send_all_state_event/2,3.
The return value Result is not further defined, and should always be ignored.
send_event_after(Time, Event) -> Ref
Types:
Time = integer()
Event = term()
Ref = reference()
Sends a delayed event internally in the gen_fsm that calls this function after Time
ms. Returns immediately a reference that can be used to cancel the delayed send
using cancel_timer/1.
The gen_fsm will call Module:StateName/2 to handle the event, where StateName is
the name of the current state of the gen_fsm at the time the delayed event is
delivered.
Event is an arbitrary term which is passed as one of the arguments to
Module:StateName/2.
start_timer(Time, Msg) -> Ref
Types:
Time = integer()
Msg = term()
Ref = reference()
Sends a timeout event internally in the gen_fsm that calls this function after Time
ms. Returns immediately a reference that can be used to cancel the timer using
cancel_timer/1.
The gen_fsm will call Module:StateName/2 to handle the event, where StateName is
the name of the current state of the gen_fsm at the time the timeout message is
delivered.
Msg is an arbitrary term which is passed in the timeout message, {timeout, Ref,
Msg}, as one of the arguments to Module:StateName/2.
cancel_timer(Ref) -> RemainingTime | false
Types:
Ref = reference()
RemainingTime = integer()
Cancels an internal timer referred by Ref in the gen_fsm that calls this function.
Ref is a reference returned from send_event_after/2 or start_timer/2.
If the timer has already timed out, but the event not yet been delivered, it is
cancelled as if it had not timed out, so there will be no false timer event after
returning from this function.
Returns the remaining time in ms until the timer would have expired if Ref referred
to an active timer, false otherwise.
enter_loop(Module, Options, StateName, StateData)
enter_loop(Module, Options, StateName, StateData, FsmName)
enter_loop(Module, Options, StateName, StateData, Timeout)
enter_loop(Module, Options, StateName, StateData, FsmName, Timeout)
Types:
Module = atom()
Options = [Option]
Option = {debug,Dbgs}
Dbgs = [Dbg]
Dbg = trace | log | statistics
| {log_to_file,FileName} | {install,{Func,FuncState}}
StateName = atom()
StateData = term()
FsmName = {local,Name} | {global,GlobalName} | {via,Module,ViaName}
Name = atom()
GlobalName = ViaName = term()
Timeout = int() | infinity
Makes an existing process into a gen_fsm. Does not return, instead the calling
process will enter the gen_fsm receive loop and become a gen_fsm process. The
process must have been started using one of the start functions in proc_lib, see
proc_lib(3erl). The user is responsible for any initialization of the process,
including registering a name for it.
This function is useful when a more complex initialization procedure is needed than
the gen_fsm behaviour provides.
Module, Options and FsmName have the same meanings as when calling
start[_link]/3,4. However, if FsmName is specified, the process must have been
registered accordingly before this function is called.
StateName, StateData and Timeout have the same meanings as in the return value of
Module:init/1. Also, the callback module Module does not need to export an init/1
function.
Failure: If the calling process was not started by a proc_lib start function, or if
it is not registered according to FsmName.
CALLBACK FUNCTIONS
The following functions should be exported from a gen_fsm callback module.
In the description, the expression state name is used to denote a state of the state
machine. state data is used to denote the internal state of the Erlang process which
implements the state machine.
EXPORTS
Module:init(Args) -> Result
Types:
Args = term()
Result = {ok,StateName,StateData} | {ok,StateName,StateData,Timeout}
| {ok,StateName,StateData,hibernate}
| {stop,Reason} | ignore
StateName = atom()
StateData = term()
Timeout = int()>0 | infinity
Reason = term()
Whenever a gen_fsm is started using gen_fsm:start/3,4 or gen_fsm:start_link/3,4,
this function is called by the new process to initialize.
Args is the Args argument provided to the start function.
If initialization is successful, the function should return
{ok,StateName,StateData}, {ok,StateName,StateData,Timeout} or
{ok,StateName,StateData,hibernate}, where StateName is the initial state name and
StateData the initial state data of the gen_fsm.
If an integer timeout value is provided, a timeout will occur unless an event or a
message is received within Timeout milliseconds. A timeout is represented by the
atom timeout and should be handled by the Module:StateName/2 callback functions.
The atom infinity can be used to wait indefinitely, this is the default value.
If hibernate is specified instead of a timeout value, the process will go into
hibernation when waiting for the next message to arrive (by calling
proc_lib:hibernate/3).
If something goes wrong during the initialization the function should return
{stop,Reason}, where Reason is any term, or ignore.
Module:StateName(Event, StateData) -> Result
Types:
Event = timeout | term()
StateData = term()
Result = {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData}
| {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,Timeout}
| {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,hibernate}
| {stop,Reason,NewStateData}
NextStateName = atom()
NewStateData = term()
Timeout = int()>0 | infinity
Reason = term()
There should be one instance of this function for each possible state name.
Whenever a gen_fsm receives an event sent using gen_fsm:send_event/2, the instance
of this function with the same name as the current state name StateName is called
to handle the event. It is also called if a timeout occurs.
Event is either the atom timeout, if a timeout has occurred, or the Event argument
provided to send_event/2.
StateData is the state data of the gen_fsm.
If the function returns {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData},
{next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,Timeout} or
{next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,hibernate}, the gen_fsm will continue
executing with the current state name set to NextStateName and with the possibly
updated state data NewStateData. See Module:init/1 for a description of Timeout and
hibernate.
If the function returns {stop,Reason,NewStateData}, the gen_fsm will call
Module:terminate(Reason,StateName,NewStateData) and terminate.
Module:handle_event(Event, StateName, StateData) -> Result
Types:
Event = term()
StateName = atom()
StateData = term()
Result = {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData}
| {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,Timeout}
| {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,hibernate}
| {stop,Reason,NewStateData}
NextStateName = atom()
NewStateData = term()
Timeout = int()>0 | infinity
Reason = term()
Whenever a gen_fsm receives an event sent using gen_fsm:send_all_state_event/2,
this function is called to handle the event.
StateName is the current state name of the gen_fsm.
See Module:StateName/2 for a description of the other arguments and possible return
values.
Module:StateName(Event, From, StateData) -> Result
Types:
Event = term()
From = {pid(),Tag}
StateData = term()
Result = {reply,Reply,NextStateName,NewStateData}
| {reply,Reply,NextStateName,NewStateData,Timeout}
| {reply,Reply,NextStateName,NewStateData,hibernate}
| {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData}
| {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,Timeout}
| {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,hibernate}
| {stop,Reason,Reply,NewStateData} | {stop,Reason,NewStateData}
Reply = term()
NextStateName = atom()
NewStateData = term()
Timeout = int()>0 | infinity
Reason = normal | term()
There should be one instance of this function for each possible state name.
Whenever a gen_fsm receives an event sent using gen_fsm:sync_send_event/2,3, the
instance of this function with the same name as the current state name StateName is
called to handle the event.
Event is the Event argument provided to sync_send_event.
From is a tuple {Pid,Tag} where Pid is the pid of the process which called
sync_send_event/2,3 and Tag is a unique tag.
StateData is the state data of the gen_fsm.
If the function returns {reply,Reply,NextStateName,NewStateData},
{reply,Reply,NextStateName,NewStateData,Timeout} or
{reply,Reply,NextStateName,NewStateData,hibernate}, Reply will be given back to
From as the return value of sync_send_event/2,3. The gen_fsm then continues
executing with the current state name set to NextStateName and with the possibly
updated state data NewStateData. See Module:init/1 for a description of Timeout and
hibernate.
If the function returns {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData},
{next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,Timeout} or
{next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,hibernate}, the gen_fsm will continue
executing in NextStateName with NewStateData. Any reply to From must be given
explicitly using gen_fsm:reply/2.
If the function returns {stop,Reason,Reply,NewStateData}, Reply will be given back
to From. If the function returns {stop,Reason,NewStateData}, any reply to From must
be given explicitly using gen_fsm:reply/2. The gen_fsm will then call
Module:terminate(Reason,StateName,NewStateData) and terminate.
Module:handle_sync_event(Event, From, StateName, StateData) -> Result
Types:
Event = term()
From = {pid(),Tag}
StateName = atom()
StateData = term()
Result = {reply,Reply,NextStateName,NewStateData}
| {reply,Reply,NextStateName,NewStateData,Timeout}
| {reply,Reply,NextStateName,NewStateData,hibernate}
| {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData}
| {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,Timeout}
| {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,hibernate}
| {stop,Reason,Reply,NewStateData} | {stop,Reason,NewStateData}
Reply = term()
NextStateName = atom()
NewStateData = term()
Timeout = int()>0 | infinity
Reason = term()
Whenever a gen_fsm receives an event sent using
gen_fsm:sync_send_all_state_event/2,3, this function is called to handle the event.
StateName is the current state name of the gen_fsm.
See Module:StateName/3 for a description of the other arguments and possible return
values.
Module:handle_info(Info, StateName, StateData) -> Result
Types:
Info = term()
StateName = atom()
StateData = term()
Result = {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData}
| {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,Timeout}
| {next_state,NextStateName,NewStateData,hibernate}
| {stop,Reason,NewStateData}
NextStateName = atom()
NewStateData = term()
Timeout = int()>0 | infinity
Reason = normal | term()
This function is called by a gen_fsm when it receives any other message than a
synchronous or asynchronous event (or a system message).
Info is the received message.
See Module:StateName/2 for a description of the other arguments and possible return
values.
Module:terminate(Reason, StateName, StateData)
Types:
Reason = normal | shutdown | {shutdown,term()} | term()
StateName = atom()
StateData = term()
This function is called by a gen_fsm when it is about to terminate. It should be
the opposite of Module:init/1 and do any necessary cleaning up. When it returns,
the gen_fsm terminates with Reason. The return value is ignored.
Reason is a term denoting the stop reason, StateName is the current state name, and
StateData is the state data of the gen_fsm.
Reason depends on why the gen_fsm is terminating. If it is because another callback
function has returned a stop tuple {stop,..}, Reason will have the value specified
in that tuple. If it is due to a failure, Reason is the error reason.
If the gen_fsm is part of a supervision tree and is ordered by its supervisor to
terminate, this function will be called with Reason=shutdown if the following
conditions apply:
* the gen_fsm has been set to trap exit signals, and
* the shutdown strategy as defined in the supervisor's child specification is an
integer timeout value, not brutal_kill.
Even if the gen_fsm is not part of a supervision tree, this function will be called
if it receives an 'EXIT' message from its parent. Reason will be the same as in the
'EXIT' message.
Otherwise, the gen_fsm will be immediately terminated.
Note that for any other reason than normal, shutdown, or {shutdown,Term} the
gen_fsm is assumed to terminate due to an error and an error report is issued using
error_logger:format/2.
Module:code_change(OldVsn, StateName, StateData, Extra) -> {ok, NextStateName,
NewStateData}
Types:
OldVsn = Vsn | {down, Vsn}
Vsn = term()
StateName = NextStateName = atom()
StateData = NewStateData = term()
Extra = term()
This function is called by a gen_fsm when it should update its internal state data
during a release upgrade/downgrade, i.e. when the instruction
{update,Module,Change,...} where Change={advanced,Extra} is given in the appup
file. See OTP Design Principles.
In the case of an upgrade, OldVsn is Vsn, and in the case of a downgrade, OldVsn is
{down,Vsn}. Vsn is defined by the vsn attribute(s) of the old version of the
callback module Module. If no such attribute is defined, the version is the
checksum of the BEAM file.
StateName is the current state name and StateData the internal state data of the
gen_fsm.
Extra is passed as-is from the {advanced,Extra} part of the update instruction.
The function should return the new current state name and updated internal data.
Module:format_status(Opt, [PDict, StateData]) -> Status
Types:
Opt = normal | terminate
PDict = [{Key, Value}]
StateData = term()
Status = term()
Note:
This callback is optional, so callback modules need not export it. The gen_fsm
module provides a default implementation of this function that returns the callback
module state data.
This function is called by a gen_fsm process when:
* One of sys:get_status/1,2 is invoked to get the gen_fsm status. Opt is set to
the atom normal for this case.
* The gen_fsm terminates abnormally and logs an error. Opt is set to the atom
terminate for this case.
This function is useful for customising the form and appearance of the gen_fsm
status for these cases. A callback module wishing to customise the
sys:get_status/1,2 return value as well as how its status appears in termination
error logs exports an instance of format_status/2 that returns a term describing
the current status of the gen_fsm.
PDict is the current value of the gen_fsm's process dictionary.
StateData is the internal state data of the gen_fsm.
The function should return Status, a term that customises the details of the
current state and status of the gen_fsm. There are no restrictions on the form
Status can take, but for the sys:get_status/1,2 case (when Opt is normal), the
recommended form for the Status value is [{data, [{"StateData", Term}]}] where Term
provides relevant details of the gen_fsm state data. Following this recommendation
isn't required, but doing so will make the callback module status consistent with
the rest of the sys:get_status/1,2 return value.
One use for this function is to return compact alternative state data
representations to avoid having large state terms printed in logfiles.
SEE ALSO
gen_event(3erl), gen_server(3erl), supervisor(3erl), proc_lib(3erl), sys(3erl)