NAME

Coro::Semaphore - counting semaphores

SYNOPSIS

use Coro;

$sig = new Coro::Semaphore [initial value];

$sig->down; # wait for signal

# ... some other "thread"

$sig->up;

DESCRIPTION

This module implements counting semaphores. You can initialize a mutex with any level of parallel users, that is, you can initialize a sempahore that can be downed more than once until it blocks. There is no owner associated with semaphores, so one thread can down it while another can up it (or vice versa), up can be called before down and so on: the semaphore is really just an integer counter that optionally blocks when it is 0.

Counting semaphores are typically used to coordinate access to resources, with the semaphore count initialized to the number of free resources. Threads then increment the count when resources are added and decrement the count when resources are removed.

You don't have to load Coro::Semaphore manually, it will be loaded automatically when you use Coro and call the new constructor.

new [initial count]

Creates a new sempahore object with the given initial lock count. The default lock count is 1, which means it is unlocked by default. Zero (or negative values) are also allowed, in which case the semaphore is locked by default.

$sem->count

Returns the current semaphore count. The semaphore can be down'ed without blocking when the count is strictly higher than 0.

$sem->adjust ($diff)

Atomically adds the amount given to the current semaphore count. If the count becomes positive, wakes up any waiters. Does not block if the count becomes negative, however.

$sem->down

Decrement the counter, therefore "locking" the semaphore. This method waits until the semaphore is available if the counter is zero or less.

$sem->wait

Similar to down, but does not actually decrement the counter. Instead, when this function returns, a following call to down or try is guaranteed to succeed without blocking, until the next thread switch (cede etc.).

Note that using wait is much less efficient than using down, so try to prefer down whenever possible.

$sem->wait ($callback)

If you pass a callback argument to wait, it will not wait, but immediately return. The callback will be called as soon as the semaphore becomes available (which might be instantly), and gets passed the semaphore as first argument.

The callback might down the semaphore exactly once, might wake up other threads, but is NOT allowed to block (switch to other threads).

$sem->up

Unlock the semaphore again.

$sem->try

Try to down the semaphore. Returns true when this was possible, otherwise return false and leave the semaphore unchanged.

$sem->waiters

In scalar context, returns the number of threads waiting for this semaphore. Might accidentally cause WW3 if called in other contexts, so don't use these.

$guard = $sem->guard

This method calls down and then creates a guard object. When the guard object is destroyed it automatically calls up.

AUTHOR/SUPPORT/CONTACT

Marc A. Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/Coro.html