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NAME
threads::shared - Perl extension for sharing data structures between threads
VERSION
This document describes threads::shared version 1.64
SYNOPSIS
use threads;
use threads::shared;
my $var :shared;
my %hsh :shared;
my @ary :shared;
my ($scalar, @array, %hash);
share($scalar);
share(@array);
share(%hash);
$var = $scalar_value;
$var = $shared_ref_value;
$var = shared_clone($non_shared_ref_value);
$var = shared_clone({'foo' => [qw/foo bar baz/]});
$hsh{'foo'} = $scalar_value;
$hsh{'bar'} = $shared_ref_value;
$hsh{'baz'} = shared_clone($non_shared_ref_value);
$hsh{'quz'} = shared_clone([1..3]);
$ary[0] = $scalar_value;
$ary[1] = $shared_ref_value;
$ary[2] = shared_clone($non_shared_ref_value);
$ary[3] = shared_clone([ {}, [] ]);
{ lock(%hash); ... }
cond_wait($scalar);
cond_timedwait($scalar, time() + 30);
cond_broadcast(@array);
cond_signal(%hash);
my $lockvar :shared;
# condition var != lock var
cond_wait($var, $lockvar);
cond_timedwait($var, time()+30, $lockvar);
DESCRIPTION
By default, variables are private to each thread, and each newly created thread gets a
private copy of each existing variable. This module allows you to share variables across
different threads (and pseudo-forks on Win32). It is used together with the threads
module.
This module supports the sharing of the following data types only: scalars and scalar
refs, arrays and array refs, and hashes and hash refs.
EXPORT
The following functions are exported by this module: "share", "shared_clone", "is_shared",
"cond_wait", "cond_timedwait", "cond_signal" and "cond_broadcast"
Note that if this module is imported when threads has not yet been loaded, then these
functions all become no-ops. This makes it possible to write modules that will work in
both threaded and non-threaded environments.
FUNCTIONS
share VARIABLE
"share" takes a variable and marks it as shared:
my ($scalar, @array, %hash);
share($scalar);
share(@array);
share(%hash);
"share" will return the shared rvalue, but always as a reference.
Variables can also be marked as shared at compile time by using the ":shared"
attribute:
my ($var, %hash, @array) :shared;
Shared variables can only store scalars, refs of shared variables, or refs of shared
data (discussed in next section):
my ($var, %hash, @array) :shared;
my $bork;
# Storing scalars
$var = 1;
$hash{'foo'} = 'bar';
$array[0] = 1.5;
# Storing shared refs
$var = \%hash;
$hash{'ary'} = \@array;
$array[1] = \$var;
# The following are errors:
# $var = \$bork; # ref of non-shared variable
# $hash{'bork'} = []; # non-shared array ref
# push(@array, { 'x' => 1 }); # non-shared hash ref
shared_clone REF
"shared_clone" takes a reference, and returns a shared version of its argument,
performing a deep copy on any non-shared elements. Any shared elements in the
argument are used as is (i.e., they are not cloned).
my $cpy = shared_clone({'foo' => [qw/foo bar baz/]});
Object status (i.e., the class an object is blessed into) is also cloned.
my $obj = {'foo' => [qw/foo bar baz/]};
bless($obj, 'Foo');
my $cpy = shared_clone($obj);
print(ref($cpy), "\n"); # Outputs 'Foo'
For cloning empty array or hash refs, the following may also be used:
$var = &share([]); # Same as $var = shared_clone([]);
$var = &share({}); # Same as $var = shared_clone({});
Not all Perl data types can be cloned (e.g., globs, code refs). By default,
"shared_clone" will croak if it encounters such items. To change this behaviour to a
warning, then set the following:
$threads::shared::clone_warn = 1;
In this case, "undef" will be substituted for the item to be cloned. If set to zero:
$threads::shared::clone_warn = 0;
then the "undef" substitution will be performed silently.
is_shared VARIABLE
"is_shared" checks if the specified variable is shared or not. If shared, returns the
variable's internal ID (similar to "refaddr()" (see Scalar::Util). Otherwise, returns
"undef".
if (is_shared($var)) {
print("\$var is shared\n");
} else {
print("\$var is not shared\n");
}
When used on an element of an array or hash, "is_shared" checks if the specified
element belongs to a shared array or hash. (It does not check the contents of that
element.)
my %hash :shared;
if (is_shared(%hash)) {
print("\%hash is shared\n");
}
$hash{'elem'} = 1;
if (is_shared($hash{'elem'})) {
print("\$hash{'elem'} is in a shared hash\n");
}
lock VARIABLE
"lock" places a advisory lock on a variable until the lock goes out of scope. If the
variable is locked by another thread, the "lock" call will block until it's available.
Multiple calls to "lock" by the same thread from within dynamically nested scopes are
safe -- the variable will remain locked until the outermost lock on the variable goes
out of scope.
"lock" follows references exactly one level:
my %hash :shared;
my $ref = \%hash;
lock($ref); # This is equivalent to lock(%hash)
Note that you cannot explicitly unlock a variable; you can only wait for the lock to
go out of scope. This is most easily accomplished by locking the variable inside a
block.
my $var :shared;
{
lock($var);
# $var is locked from here to the end of the block
...
}
# $var is now unlocked
As locks are advisory, they do not prevent data access or modification by another
thread that does not itself attempt to obtain a lock on the variable.
You cannot lock the individual elements of a container variable:
my %hash :shared;
$hash{'foo'} = 'bar';
#lock($hash{'foo'}); # Error
lock(%hash); # Works
If you need more fine-grained control over shared variable access, see
Thread::Semaphore.
cond_wait VARIABLE
cond_wait CONDVAR, LOCKVAR
The "cond_wait" function takes a locked variable as a parameter, unlocks the variable,
and blocks until another thread does a "cond_signal" or "cond_broadcast" for that same
locked variable. The variable that "cond_wait" blocked on is re-locked after the
"cond_wait" is satisfied. If there are multiple threads "cond_wait"ing on the same
variable, all but one will re-block waiting to reacquire the lock on the variable.
(So if you're only using "cond_wait" for synchronization, give up the lock as soon as
possible). The two actions of unlocking the variable and entering the blocked wait
state are atomic, the two actions of exiting from the blocked wait state and re-
locking the variable are not.
In its second form, "cond_wait" takes a shared, unlocked variable followed by a
shared, locked variable. The second variable is unlocked and thread execution
suspended until another thread signals the first variable.
It is important to note that the variable can be notified even if no thread
"cond_signal" or "cond_broadcast" on the variable. It is therefore important to check
the value of the variable and go back to waiting if the requirement is not fulfilled.
For example, to pause until a shared counter drops to zero:
{ lock($counter); cond_wait($counter) until $counter == 0; }
cond_timedwait VARIABLE, ABS_TIMEOUT
cond_timedwait CONDVAR, ABS_TIMEOUT, LOCKVAR
In its two-argument form, "cond_timedwait" takes a locked variable and an absolute
timeout in epoch seconds (see time() in perlfunc for more) as parameters, unlocks the
variable, and blocks until the timeout is reached or another thread signals the
variable. A false value is returned if the timeout is reached, and a true value
otherwise. In either case, the variable is re-locked upon return.
Like "cond_wait", this function may take a shared, locked variable as an additional
parameter; in this case the first parameter is an unlocked condition variable
protected by a distinct lock variable.
Again like "cond_wait", waking up and reacquiring the lock are not atomic, and you
should always check your desired condition after this function returns. Since the
timeout is an absolute value, however, it does not have to be recalculated with each
pass:
lock($var);
my $abs = time() + 15;
until ($ok = desired_condition($var)) {
last if !cond_timedwait($var, $abs);
}
# we got it if $ok, otherwise we timed out!
cond_signal VARIABLE
The "cond_signal" function takes a locked variable as a parameter and unblocks one
thread that's "cond_wait"ing on that variable. If more than one thread is blocked in
a "cond_wait" on that variable, only one (and which one is indeterminate) will be
unblocked.
If there are no threads blocked in a "cond_wait" on the variable, the signal is
discarded. By always locking before signaling, you can (with care), avoid signaling
before another thread has entered cond_wait().
"cond_signal" will normally generate a warning if you attempt to use it on an unlocked
variable. On the rare occasions where doing this may be sensible, you can suppress
the warning with:
{ no warnings 'threads'; cond_signal($foo); }
cond_broadcast VARIABLE
The "cond_broadcast" function works similarly to "cond_signal". "cond_broadcast",
though, will unblock all the threads that are blocked in a "cond_wait" on the locked
variable, rather than only one.
OBJECTS
threads::shared exports a version of bless() that works on shared objects such that
blessings propagate across threads.
# Create a shared 'Foo' object
my $foo :shared = shared_clone({});
bless($foo, 'Foo');
# Create a shared 'Bar' object
my $bar :shared = shared_clone({});
bless($bar, 'Bar');
# Put 'bar' inside 'foo'
$foo->{'bar'} = $bar;
# Rebless the objects via a thread
threads->create(sub {
# Rebless the outer object
bless($foo, 'Yin');
# Cannot directly rebless the inner object
#bless($foo->{'bar'}, 'Yang');
# Retrieve and rebless the inner object
my $obj = $foo->{'bar'};
bless($obj, 'Yang');
$foo->{'bar'} = $obj;
})->join();
print(ref($foo), "\n"); # Prints 'Yin'
print(ref($foo->{'bar'}), "\n"); # Prints 'Yang'
print(ref($bar), "\n"); # Also prints 'Yang'
NOTES
threads::shared is designed to disable itself silently if threads are not available. This
allows you to write modules and packages that can be used in both threaded and non-
threaded applications.
If you want access to threads, you must "use threads" before you "use threads::shared".
threads will emit a warning if you use it after threads::shared.
WARNINGS
cond_broadcast() called on unlocked variable
cond_signal() called on unlocked variable
See "cond_signal VARIABLE", above.
BUGS AND LIMITATIONS
When "share" is used on arrays, hashes, array refs or hash refs, any data they contain
will be lost.
my @arr = qw(foo bar baz);
share(@arr);
# @arr is now empty (i.e., == ());
# Create a 'foo' object
my $foo = { 'data' => 99 };
bless($foo, 'foo');
# Share the object
share($foo); # Contents are now wiped out
print("ERROR: \$foo is empty\n")
if (! exists($foo->{'data'}));
Therefore, populate such variables after declaring them as shared. (Scalar and scalar
refs are not affected by this problem.)
Blessing a shared item after it has been nested in another shared item does not propagate
the blessing to the shared reference:
my $foo = &share({});
my $bar = &share({});
$bar->{foo} = $foo;
bless($foo, 'baz'); # $foo is now of class 'baz',
# but $bar->{foo} is unblessed.
Therefore, you should bless objects before sharing them.
It is often not wise to share an object unless the class itself has been written to
support sharing. For example, a shared object's destructor may get called multiple times,
once for each thread's scope exit, or may not get called at all if it is embedded inside
another shared object. Another issue is that the contents of hash-based objects will be
lost due to the above mentioned limitation. See examples/class.pl (in the CPAN
distribution of this module) for how to create a class that supports object sharing.
Destructors may not be called on objects if those objects still exist at global
destruction time. If the destructors must be called, make sure there are no circular
references and that nothing is referencing the objects before the program ends.
Does not support "splice" on arrays. Does not support explicitly changing array lengths
via $#array -- use "push" and "pop" instead.
Taking references to the elements of shared arrays and hashes does not autovivify the
elements, and neither does slicing a shared array/hash over non-existent indices/keys
autovivify the elements.
"share()" allows you to "share($hashref->{key})" and "share($arrayref->[idx])" without
giving any error message. But the "$hashref->{key}" or "$arrayref->[idx]" is not shared,
causing the error "lock can only be used on shared values" to occur when you attempt to
"lock($hashref->{key})" or "lock($arrayref->[idx])" in another thread.
Using "refaddr()" is unreliable for testing whether or not two shared references are
equivalent (e.g., when testing for circular references). Use is_shared(), instead:
use threads;
use threads::shared;
use Scalar::Util qw(refaddr);
# If ref is shared, use threads::shared's internal ID.
# Otherwise, use refaddr().
my $addr1 = is_shared($ref1) || refaddr($ref1);
my $addr2 = is_shared($ref2) || refaddr($ref2);
if ($addr1 == $addr2) {
# The refs are equivalent
}
each() does not work properly on shared references embedded in shared structures. For
example:
my %foo :shared;
$foo{'bar'} = shared_clone({'a'=>'x', 'b'=>'y', 'c'=>'z'});
while (my ($key, $val) = each(%{$foo{'bar'}})) {
...
}
Either of the following will work instead:
my $ref = $foo{'bar'};
while (my ($key, $val) = each(%{$ref})) {
...
}
foreach my $key (keys(%{$foo{'bar'}})) {
my $val = $foo{'bar'}{$key};
...
}
This module supports dual-valued variables created using "dualvar()" from Scalar::Util.
However, while $! acts like a dualvar, it is implemented as a tied SV. To propagate its
value, use the follow construct, if needed:
my $errno :shared = dualvar($!,$!);
View existing bug reports at, and submit any new bugs, problems, patches, etc. to:
<http://rt.cpan.org/Public/Dist/Display.html?Name=threads-shared>
SEE ALSO
threads::shared on MetaCPAN: <https://metacpan.org/release/threads-shared>
Code repository for CPAN distribution: <https://github.com/Dual-Life/threads-shared>
threads, perlthrtut
<http://www.perl.com/pub/a/2002/06/11/threads.html> and
<http://www.perl.com/pub/a/2002/09/04/threads.html>
Perl threads mailing list: <http://lists.perl.org/list/ithreads.html>
Sample code in the examples directory of this distribution on CPAN.
AUTHOR
Artur Bergman <sky AT crucially DOT net>
Documentation borrowed from the old Thread.pm.
CPAN version produced by Jerry D. Hedden <jdhedden AT cpan DOT org>.
LICENSE
threads::shared is released under the same license as Perl.