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      1 #ifndef foothreadmainloophfoo
      2 #define foothreadmainloophfoo
      3 
      4 /* $Id: thread-mainloop.h 1971 2007-10-28 19:13:50Z lennart $ */
      5 
      6 /***
      7   This file is part of PulseAudio.
      8 
      9   Copyright 2006 Lennart Poettering
     10   Copyright 2006 Pierre Ossman <ossman (at) cendio.se> for Cendio AB
     11 
     12   PulseAudio is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
     13   it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
     14   by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License,
     15   or (at your option) any later version.
     16 
     17   PulseAudio is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
     18   WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
     19   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
     20   General Public License for more details.
     21 
     22   You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
     23   along with PulseAudio; if not, write to the Free Software
     24   Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307
     25   USA.
     26 ***/
     27 
     28 #include <pulse/mainloop-api.h>
     29 #include <pulse/cdecl.h>
     30 
     31 PA_C_DECL_BEGIN
     32 
     33 /** \page threaded_mainloop Threaded Main Loop
     34  *
     35  * \section overv_sec Overview
     36  *
     37  * The threaded main loop implementation is a special version of the primary
     38  * main loop implementation (see \ref mainloop). For the basic design, see
     39  * its documentation.
     40  *
     41  * The added feature in the threaded main loop is that it spawns a new thread
     42  * that runs the real main loop. This allows a synchronous application to use
     43  * the asynchronous API without risking to stall the PulseAudio library.
     44  *
     45  * \section creat_sec Creation
     46  *
     47  * A pa_threaded_mainloop object is created using pa_threaded_mainloop_new().
     48  * This will only allocate the required structures though, so to use it the
     49  * thread must also be started. This is done through
     50  * pa_threaded_mainloop_start(), after which you can start using the main loop.
     51  *
     52  * \section destr_sec Destruction
     53  *
     54  * When the PulseAudio connection has been terminated, the thread must be
     55  * stopped and the resources freed. Stopping the thread is done using
     56  * pa_threaded_mainloop_stop(), which must be called without the lock (see
     57  * below) held. When that function returns, the thread is stopped and the
     58  * pa_threaded_mainloop object can be freed using pa_threaded_mainloop_free().
     59  *
     60  * \section lock_sec Locking
     61  *
     62  * Since the PulseAudio API doesn't allow concurrent accesses to objects,
     63  * a locking scheme must be used to guarantee safe usage. The threaded main
     64  * loop API provides such a scheme through the functions
     65  * pa_threaded_mainloop_lock() and pa_threaded_mainloop_unlock().
     66  *
     67  * The lock is recursive, so it's safe to use it multiple times from the same
     68  * thread. Just make sure you call pa_threaded_mainloop_unlock() the same
     69  * number of times you called pa_threaded_mainloop_lock().
     70  *
     71  * The lock needs to be held whenever you call any PulseAudio function that
     72  * uses an object associated with this main loop. Make sure you do not hold
     73  * on to the lock more than necessary though, as the threaded main loop stops
     74  * while the lock is held.
     75  *
     76  * Example:
     77  *
     78  * \code
     79  * void my_check_stream_func(pa_threaded_mainloop *m, pa_stream *s) {
     80  *     pa_stream_state_t state;
     81  *
     82  *     pa_threaded_mainloop_lock(m);
     83  *
     84  *     state = pa_stream_get_state(s);
     85  *
     86  *     pa_threaded_mainloop_unlock(m);
     87  *
     88  *     if (state == PA_STREAM_READY)
     89  *         printf("Stream is ready!");
     90  *     else
     91  *         printf("Stream is not ready!");
     92  * }
     93  * \endcode
     94  *
     95  * \section cb_sec Callbacks
     96  *
     97  * Callbacks in PulseAudio are asynchronous, so they require extra care when
     98  * using them together with a threaded main loop.
     99  *
    100  * The easiest way to turn the callback based operations into synchronous
    101  * ones, is to simply wait for the callback to be called and continue from
    102  * there. This is the approach chosen in PulseAudio's threaded API.
    103  *
    104  * \subsection basic_subsec Basic callbacks
    105  *
    106  * For the basic case, where all that is required is to wait for the callback
    107  * to be invoked, the code should look something like this:
    108  *
    109  * Example:
    110  *
    111  * \code
    112  * static void my_drain_callback(pa_stream*s, int success, void *userdata) {
    113  *     pa_threaded_mainloop *m;
    114  *
    115  *     m = (pa_threaded_mainloop*)userdata;
    116  *     assert(m);
    117  *
    118  *     pa_threaded_mainloop_signal(m, 0);
    119  * }
    120  *
    121  * void my_drain_stream_func(pa_threaded_mainloop *m, pa_stream *s) {
    122  *     pa_operation *o;
    123  *
    124  *     pa_threaded_mainloop_lock(m);
    125  *
    126  *     o = pa_stream_drain(s, my_drain_callback, m);
    127  *     assert(o);
    128  *
    129  *     while (pa_operation_get_state(o) != OPERATION_DONE)
    130  *         pa_threaded_mainloop_wait(m);
    131  *
    132  *     pa_operation_unref(o);
    133  *
    134  *     pa_threaded_mainloop_unlock(m);
    135  * }
    136  * \endcode
    137  *
    138  * The main function, my_drain_stream_func(), will wait for the callback to
    139  * be called using pa_threaded_mainloop_wait().
    140  *
    141  * If your application is multi-threaded, then this waiting must be done
    142  * inside a while loop. The reason for this is that multiple threads might be
    143  * using pa_threaded_mainloop_wait() at the same time. Each thread must
    144  * therefore verify that it was its callback that was invoked.
    145  *
    146  * The callback, my_drain_callback(), indicates to the main function that it
    147  * has been called using pa_threaded_mainloop_signal().
    148  *
    149  * As you can see, both pa_threaded_mainloop_wait() may only be called with
    150  * the lock held. The same thing is true for pa_threaded_mainloop_signal(),
    151  * but as the lock is held before the callback is invoked, you do not have to
    152  * deal with that.
    153  *
    154  * The functions will not dead lock because the wait function will release
    155  * the lock before waiting and then regrab it once it has been signaled.
    156  * For those of you familiar with threads, the behaviour is that of a
    157  * condition variable.
    158  *
    159  * \subsection data_subsec Data callbacks
    160  *
    161  * For many callbacks, simply knowing that they have been called is
    162  * insufficient. The callback also receives some data that is desired. To
    163  * access this data safely, we must extend our example a bit:
    164  *
    165  * \code
    166  * static int *drain_result;
    167  *
    168  * static void my_drain_callback(pa_stream*s, int success, void *userdata) {
    169  *     pa_threaded_mainloop *m;
    170  *
    171  *     m = (pa_threaded_mainloop*)userdata;
    172  *     assert(m);
    173  *
    174  *     drain_result = &success;
    175  *
    176  *     pa_threaded_mainloop_signal(m, 1);
    177  * }
    178  *
    179  * void my_drain_stream_func(pa_threaded_mainloop *m, pa_stream *s) {
    180  *     pa_operation *o;
    181  *
    182  *     pa_threaded_mainloop_lock(m);
    183  *
    184  *     o = pa_stream_drain(s, my_drain_callback, m);
    185  *     assert(o);
    186  *
    187  *     while (pa_operation_get_state(o) != OPERATION_DONE)
    188  *         pa_threaded_mainloop_wait(m);
    189  *
    190  *     pa_operation_unref(o);
    191  *
    192  *     if (*drain_result)
    193  *         printf("Success!");
    194  *     else
    195  *         printf("Bitter defeat...");
    196  *
    197  *     pa_threaded_mainloop_accept(m);
    198  *
    199  *     pa_threaded_mainloop_unlock(m);
    200  * }
    201  * \endcode
    202  *
    203  * The example is a bit silly as it would probably have been easier to just
    204  * copy the contents of success, but for larger data structures this can be
    205  * wasteful.
    206  *
    207  * The difference here compared to the basic callback is the 1 sent to
    208  * pa_threaded_mainloop_signal() and the call to
    209  * pa_threaded_mainloop_accept(). What will happen is that
    210  * pa_threaded_mainloop_signal() will signal the main function and then stop.
    211  * The main function is then free to use the data in the callback until
    212  * pa_threaded_mainloop_accept() is called, which will allow the callback
    213  * to continue.
    214  *
    215  * Note that pa_threaded_mainloop_accept() must be called some time between
    216  * exiting the while loop and unlocking the main loop! Failure to do so will
    217  * result in a race condition. I.e. it is not ok to release the lock and
    218  * regrab it before calling pa_threaded_mainloop_accept().
    219  *
    220  * \subsection async_subsec Asynchronous callbacks
    221  *
    222  * PulseAudio also has callbacks that are completely asynchronous, meaning
    223  * that they can be called at any time. The threading main loop API provides
    224  * the locking mechanism to handle concurrent accesses, but nothing else.
    225  * Applications will have to handle communication from the callback to the
    226  * main program through some own system.
    227  *
    228  * The callbacks that are completely asynchronous are:
    229  *
    230  * \li State callbacks for contexts, streams, etc.
    231  * \li Subscription notifications
    232  */
    233 
    234 /** \file
    235  *
    236  * A thread based event loop implementation based on pa_mainloop. The
    237  * event loop is run in a helper thread in the background. A few
    238  * synchronization primitives are available to access the objects
    239  * attached to the event loop safely. */
    240 
    241 /** An opaque threaded main loop object */
    242 typedef struct pa_threaded_mainloop pa_threaded_mainloop;
    243 
    244 /** Allocate a new threaded main loop object. You have to call
    245  * pa_threaded_mainloop_start() before the event loop thread starts
    246  * running. */
    247 pa_threaded_mainloop *pa_threaded_mainloop_new(void);
    248 
    249 /** Free a threaded main loop object. If the event loop thread is
    250  * still running, it is terminated using pa_threaded_mainloop_stop()
    251  * first. */
    252 void pa_threaded_mainloop_free(pa_threaded_mainloop* m);
    253 
    254 /** Start the event loop thread. */
    255 int pa_threaded_mainloop_start(pa_threaded_mainloop *m);
    256 
    257 /** Terminate the event loop thread cleanly. Make sure to unlock the
    258  * mainloop object before calling this function. */
    259 void pa_threaded_mainloop_stop(pa_threaded_mainloop *m);
    260 
    261 /** Lock the event loop object, effectively blocking the event loop
    262  * thread from processing events. You can use this to enforce
    263  * exclusive access to all objects attached to the event loop. This
    264  * lock is recursive. This function may not be called inside the event
    265  * loop thread. Events that are dispatched from the event loop thread
    266  * are executed with this lock held. */
    267 void pa_threaded_mainloop_lock(pa_threaded_mainloop *m);
    268 
    269 /** Unlock the event loop object, inverse of pa_threaded_mainloop_lock() */
    270 void pa_threaded_mainloop_unlock(pa_threaded_mainloop *m);
    271 
    272 /** Wait for an event to be signalled by the event loop thread. You
    273  * can use this to pass data from the event loop thread to the main
    274  * thread in synchronized fashion. This function may not be called
    275  * inside the event loop thread. Prior to this call the event loop
    276  * object needs to be locked using pa_threaded_mainloop_lock(). While
    277  * waiting the lock will be released, immediately before returning it
    278  * will be acquired again. */
    279 void pa_threaded_mainloop_wait(pa_threaded_mainloop *m);
    280 
    281 /** Signal all threads waiting for a signalling event in
    282  * pa_threaded_mainloop_wait(). If wait_for_release is non-zero, do
    283  * not return before the signal was accepted by a
    284  * pa_threaded_mainloop_accept() call. While waiting for that condition
    285  * the event loop object is unlocked. */
    286 void pa_threaded_mainloop_signal(pa_threaded_mainloop *m, int wait_for_accept);
    287 
    288 /** Accept a signal from the event thread issued with
    289  * pa_threaded_mainloop_signal(). This call should only be used in
    290  * conjunction with pa_threaded_mainloop_signal() with a non-zero
    291  * wait_for_accept value.  */
    292 void pa_threaded_mainloop_accept(pa_threaded_mainloop *m);
    293 
    294 /** Return the return value as specified with the main loop's quit() routine. */
    295 int pa_threaded_mainloop_get_retval(pa_threaded_mainloop *m);
    296 
    297 /** Return the abstract main loop abstraction layer vtable for this main loop. */
    298 pa_mainloop_api* pa_threaded_mainloop_get_api(pa_threaded_mainloop*m);
    299 
    300 /** Returns non-zero when called from withing the event loop thread. \since 0.9.7 */
    301 int pa_threaded_mainloop_in_thread(pa_threaded_mainloop *m);
    302 
    303 PA_C_DECL_END
    304 
    305 #endif
    306