Provided by: libbobcat-dev_4.08.02-2build1_amd64 
NAME
FBB::Selector - Timed delays, Alarms and Multiple File I/O.
SYNOPSIS
#include <bobcat/selector>
Linking option: -lbobcat
DESCRIPTION
FBB::Selector objects are wrappers around the select(2) system calls and allow timed
delays, alarm functionality and/or multiple file I/O. It requires the use of file
descriptors, which are not an official part of C++. However, most operating systems offer
file descriptors. Sockets are well-known file descriptors.
NAMESPACE
FBB
All constructors, members, operators and manipulators, mentioned in this man-page, are
defined in the namespace FBB.
INHERITS FROM
-
CONSTRUCTORS
o Selector():
This constructor initializes the object. The copy constructor is available.
MEMBER FUNCTIONS
o void addExceptFd(int fd):
Adds a filedescriptor to the set of file descriptors that are monitored for
exceptions (note these are not C++ exceptions. See man 2 select for details).
o void addReadFd(int fd):
Adds a filedescriptor to the set of file descriptors that are monitored for
reading.
o void addWriteFd(int fd):
Adds a filedescriptor to the set of file descriptors that are monitored for
writing.
o int exceptFd():
Returns -1 of no more file descriptors are available in the exception category.
Otherwise the next available file descriptor in the exception category is returned.
Returning from wait, this function can be called repeatedly until -1 is returned,
servicing each available filedescriptor in turn.
o void noAlarm():
This member prevents any timeout-alarm from occurring.
o int nReady():
Returns the number of available file descriptors. 0 is returned at a timeout, -1:
is returned when select(2) itself failed.
o int readFd():
Returns -1 of no more file descriptors are available for reading. Otherwise the
next available file descriptor for reading is returned. Returning from wait, this
function can be called repeatedly until -1 is returned, servicing each available
filedescriptor in turn. Note that the file whose file descriptor is returned by
readFd may also be at its end-of-file position. The file is `ready for reading’,
but no characters will be returned when trying to read from it due to its
end-of-file status. In that case the file descriptor is probably best removed from
the set of active file descriptors.
o void rmExceptFd(int fd):
Removes a filedescriptor from the set of file descriptors that are monitored for
exceptions (note these are not C++ exceptions. See man 2 select for details).
o void rmReadFd(int fd):
Removes a filedescriptor from the set of file descriptors that are monitored for
reading.
o void rmWriteFd(int fd):
Removes a filedescriptor from the set of file descriptors that are monitored for
writing.
o void setAlarm(int sec, int usec = 0):
This member sets the alarm at the indicated seconds and micro-seconds. If no action
occurred on one of the monitored file descriptions following the indicated amount
of time, wait will return with nReady returning 0. The requested alarm time (sec +
usec / 1e+6) may not be negative and may not exceed std::numeric_limits<int>::max()
or an FBB::Exception exception will be thrown. A 0 alarm time specification results
in wait returning immediately. To switch off the alarm time use noAlarm.
o int wait():
This member should be called to wait for activities on the installed file
descriptors or timeout-period. The members exceptFd, nReady, readFd and writeFd
show their defined behaviors only after wait has returned.
It throws an FBB::Exception exception when select(2) fails, which may very well
indicate the end of any available input. An exception is also thrown if the program
received a signal.
If wait returns normally its return value represents the number of available file
descriptors. Note that wait may also return with an input file descriptor returned
by readFd of a file at its end-of-file position. The file is `ready for reading’,
but no characters will be returned when trying to read from it due to its
end-of-file status.
o int writeFd():
Returns -1 of no more file descriptors are available for writing. Otherwise the
next available file descriptor for writing is returned. Returning from wait, this
function can be called repeatedly until -1 is returned, servicing each available
filedescriptor in turn.
EXAMPLE
#include <string>
#include <iostream>
#include <bobcat/selector>
#include <bobcat/exception>
using namespace std;
using namespace FBB;
int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
{
Selector selector;
selector.setAlarm(5); // every 5 secs: alarm fires
selector.addReadFd(STDIN_FILENO); // look also at cin
try
{
while (true)
{
if (!selector.wait()) // 0: alarm fires
cout << "Are you still there?" << endl;
else
{
string s;
if (!getline(cin, s) || !s.length())
return 0;
cout << "Thank you for: " << s << endl;
}
}
}
catch (Exception const &e)
{
cout << e.what() << endl;
}
return 0;
}
FILES
bobcat/selector - defines the class interface
SEE ALSO
bobcat(7), select(2)
BUGS
Not so much a bug as something to be aware of: When removing input file descriptors of
files at their end-of-file positions the set of active file descriptors monitored by wait
may decay to an empty set. If wait is thereupon called it will wait forever since there
are no more file descriptors to monitor. The monitoring process should check for this
empty-set situation before calling wait.
Facilities to prevent wait from waiting indefinitely in this situation will be added to
Selector in a future Bobcat release.
DISTRIBUTION FILES
o bobcat_4.08.02-x.dsc: detached signature;
o bobcat_4.08.02-x.tar.gz: source archive;
o bobcat_4.08.02-x_i386.changes: change log;
o libbobcat1_4.08.02-x_*.deb: debian package holding the libraries;
o libbobcat1-dev_4.08.02-x_*.deb: debian package holding the libraries, headers and
manual pages;
o http://sourceforge.net/projects/bobcat: public archive location;
BOBCAT
Bobcat is an acronym of `Brokken’s Own Base Classes And Templates’.
COPYRIGHT
This is free software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License
(GPL).
AUTHOR
Frank B. Brokken (f.b.brokken@rug.nl).