summaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/lib/kernel/src/rpc.erl
blob: bd6ea26678f2c59d7325cf66558289b1f1645b4a (plain)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
%%
%% %CopyrightBegin%
%%
%% Copyright Ericsson AB 1996-2016. All Rights Reserved.
%%
%% Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
%% you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
%% You may obtain a copy of the License at
%%
%%     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
%%
%% Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
%% distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
%% WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
%% See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
%% limitations under the License.
%%
%% %CopyrightEnd%
%%
-module(rpc).

%% General rpc, broadcast,multicall, promise and parallel evaluator
%% facility

%% This code used to reside in net.erl, but has now been moved to
%% a separate module.

-define(NAME, rex).

-behaviour(gen_server).

-export([start/0, start_link/0, stop/0,
	 call/4, call/5,
	 block_call/4, block_call/5,
	 server_call/4,
	 cast/4,
	 abcast/2,
	 abcast/3,
	 sbcast/2,
	 sbcast/3,
	 eval_everywhere/3,
	 eval_everywhere/4,
	 multi_server_call/2,
	 multi_server_call/3,
	 multicall/3,
	 multicall/4,
	 multicall/5,
	 async_call/4,
	 yield/1,
	 nb_yield/2,
	 nb_yield/1,
	 parallel_eval/1,
	 pmap/3, pinfo/1, pinfo/2]).

%% gen_server exports
-export([init/1, handle_call/3, handle_cast/2, handle_info/2,
	 terminate/2, code_change/3]).

%% Internals
-export([proxy_user_flush/0]).

-export_type([key/0]).

%%------------------------------------------------------------------------

-type state() :: map().

%%------------------------------------------------------------------------


%% The rex server may receive a huge amount of
%% messages. Make sure that they are stored off heap to
%% avoid exessive GCs.

-define(SPAWN_OPTS, [{spawn_opt,[{message_queue_data,off_heap}]}]).

%% Remote execution and broadcasting facility

-spec start() -> {'ok', pid()} | 'ignore' | {'error', term()}.

start() ->
    gen_server:start({local,?NAME}, ?MODULE, [], ?SPAWN_OPTS).

-spec start_link() -> {'ok', pid()} | 'ignore' | {'error', term()}.

start_link() ->
    %% The rex server process may receive a huge amount of
    %% messages. Make sure that they are stored off heap to
    %% avoid exessive GCs.
    gen_server:start_link({local,?NAME}, ?MODULE, [], ?SPAWN_OPTS).

-spec stop() -> term().

stop() ->
    stop(?NAME).

stop(Rpc) ->
    gen_server:call(Rpc, stop, infinity).

-spec init([]) -> {'ok', state()}.

init([]) ->
    process_flag(trap_exit, true),
    {ok, maps:new()}.

-spec handle_call(term(), term(), state()) ->
        {'noreply', state()} |
	{'reply', term(), state()} |
	{'stop', 'normal', 'stopped', state()}.

handle_call({call, Mod, Fun, Args, Gleader}, To, S) ->
    handle_call_call(Mod, Fun, Args, Gleader, To, S);
handle_call({block_call, Mod, Fun, Args, Gleader}, _To, S) ->
    MyGL = group_leader(),
    set_group_leader(Gleader),
    Reply = 
	case catch apply(Mod,Fun,Args) of
	    {'EXIT', _} = Exit ->
		{badrpc, Exit};
	    Other ->
		Other
	end,
    group_leader(MyGL, self()), % restore
    {reply, Reply, S};
handle_call(stop, _To, S) ->
    {stop, normal, stopped, S};
handle_call(_, _To, S) ->
    {noreply, S}.  % Ignore !

-spec handle_cast(term(), state()) -> {'noreply', state()}.

handle_cast({cast, Mod, Fun, Args, Gleader}, S) ->
    spawn(fun() ->
		  set_group_leader(Gleader),
		  apply(Mod, Fun, Args)
	  end),
    {noreply, S};
handle_cast(_, S) ->
    {noreply, S}.  % Ignore !

-spec handle_info(term(), state()) -> {'noreply', state()}.

handle_info({'DOWN', _, process, Caller, normal}, S) ->
    {noreply, maps:remove(Caller, S)};
handle_info({'DOWN', _, process, Caller, Reason}, S) ->
    case maps:get(Caller, S, undefined) of
	undefined ->
	    {noreply, S};
	{_, _} = To ->
	    gen_server:reply(To, {badrpc, {'EXIT', Reason}}),
	    {noreply, maps:remove(Caller, S)}
    end;
handle_info({From, {sbcast, Name, Msg}}, S) ->
    _ = case catch Name ! Msg of  %% use catch to get the printout
            {'EXIT', _} ->
                From ! {?NAME, node(), {nonexisting_name, Name}};
            _ ->
                From ! {?NAME, node(), node()}
        end,
    {noreply, S};
handle_info({From, {send, Name, Msg}}, S) ->
    _ = case catch Name ! {From, Msg} of %% use catch to get the printout
            {'EXIT', _} ->
                From ! {?NAME, node(), {nonexisting_name, Name}};
            _ ->
                ok    %% It's up to Name to respond !!!!!
        end,
    {noreply, S};
handle_info({From, {call,Mod,Fun,Args,Gleader}}, S) ->
    %% Special for hidden C node's, uugh ...
    handle_call_call(Mod, Fun, Args, Gleader, {From,?NAME}, S);
handle_info(_, S) ->
    {noreply, S}.

-spec terminate(term(), state()) -> 'ok'.

terminate(_, _S) ->
    ok.

-spec code_change(term(), state(), term()) -> {'ok', state()}.

code_change(_, S, _) ->
    {ok, S}.

%%
%% Auxiliary function to avoid a false dialyzer warning -- do not inline
%%
handle_call_call(Mod, Fun, Args, Gleader, To, S) ->
    %% Spawn not to block the rpc server.
    {Caller,_} =
	erlang:spawn_monitor(
	  fun () ->
		  set_group_leader(Gleader),
		  Reply = 
		      %% in case some sucker rex'es 
		      %% something that throws
		      case catch apply(Mod, Fun, Args) of
			  {'EXIT', _} = Exit ->
			      {badrpc, Exit};
			  Result ->
			      Result
		      end,
		  gen_server:reply(To, Reply)
	  end),
    {noreply, maps:put(Caller, To, S)}.


%% RPC aid functions ....

set_group_leader(Gleader) when is_pid(Gleader) -> 
    group_leader(Gleader, self());
set_group_leader(user) -> 
    %% For example, hidden C nodes doesn't want any I/O.
    Gleader = case whereis(user) of
		  Pid when is_pid(Pid) -> Pid;
		  undefined -> proxy_user()
	      end,
    group_leader(Gleader, self()).


%% The 'rex_proxy_user' process serve as group leader for early rpc's that
%% may do IO before the real group leader 'user' has been started (OTP-7903).
proxy_user() ->
    case whereis(rex_proxy_user) of
	Pid when is_pid(Pid) -> Pid;
	undefined ->
	    Pid = spawn(fun() -> proxy_user_loop() end),
	    try register(rex_proxy_user,Pid) of
		true -> Pid
	    catch error:_ -> % spawn race, kill and try again
		exit(Pid,kill),
		proxy_user()
	    end
    end.

proxy_user_loop() ->
    %% Wait for the real 'user' to start
    timer:sleep(200),
    case whereis(user) of
	Pid when is_pid(Pid) -> proxy_user_flush();
	undefined -> proxy_user_loop()
    end.

-spec proxy_user_flush() -> no_return().

proxy_user_flush() ->
    %% Forward all received messages to 'user'
    receive Msg ->
	    user ! Msg
    after 10*1000 ->
	    %% Hibernate but live for ever, as it's not easy to know
	    %% when no more messages will arrive.
	    erlang:hibernate(?MODULE, proxy_user_flush, [])
    end,
    proxy_user_flush().


%% THE rpc client interface

-spec call(Node, Module, Function, Args) -> Res | {badrpc, Reason} when
      Node :: node(),
      Module :: module(),
      Function :: atom(),
      Args :: [term()],
      Res :: term(),
      Reason :: term().

call(N,M,F,A) when node() =:= N ->  %% Optimize local call
    local_call(M, F, A);
call(N,M,F,A) ->
    do_call(N, {call,M,F,A,group_leader()}, infinity).

-spec call(Node, Module, Function, Args, Timeout) ->
                  Res | {badrpc, Reason} when
      Node :: node(),
      Module :: module(),
      Function :: atom(),
      Args :: [term()],
      Res :: term(),
      Reason :: term(),
      Timeout :: timeout().

call(N,M,F,A,infinity) when node() =:= N ->  %% Optimize local call
    local_call(M,F,A);
call(N,M,F,A,infinity) ->
    do_call(N, {call,M,F,A,group_leader()}, infinity);
call(N,M,F,A,Timeout) when is_integer(Timeout), Timeout >= 0 ->
    do_call(N, {call,M,F,A,group_leader()}, Timeout).

-spec block_call(Node, Module, Function, Args) -> Res | {badrpc, Reason} when
      Node :: node(),
      Module :: module(),
      Function :: atom(),
      Args :: [term()],
      Res :: term(),
      Reason :: term().

block_call(N,M,F,A) when node() =:= N -> %% Optimize local call
    local_call(M,F,A);
block_call(N,M,F,A) ->
    do_call(N, {block_call,M,F,A,group_leader()}, infinity).

-spec block_call(Node, Module, Function, Args, Timeout) ->
                  Res | {badrpc, Reason} when
      Node :: node(),
      Module :: module(),
      Function :: atom(),
      Args :: [term()],
      Res :: term(),
      Reason :: term(),
      Timeout :: timeout().

block_call(N,M,F,A,_Timeout) when node() =:= N ->  %% Optimize local call
    local_call(M, F, A);
block_call(N,M,F,A,infinity) ->
    do_call(N, {block_call,M,F,A,group_leader()}, infinity);
block_call(N,M,F,A,Timeout) when is_integer(Timeout), Timeout >= 0 ->
    do_call(N, {block_call,M,F,A,group_leader()}, Timeout).

local_call(M, F, A) when is_atom(M), is_atom(F), is_list(A) ->
    case catch apply(M, F, A) of
	{'EXIT',_}=V -> {badrpc, V};
	Other -> Other
    end.

do_call(Node, Request, infinity) ->
    rpc_check(catch gen_server:call({?NAME,Node}, Request, infinity));
do_call(Node, Request, Timeout) ->
    Tag = make_ref(),
    {Receiver,Mref} =
	erlang:spawn_monitor(
	  fun() ->
		  %% Middleman process. Should be unsensitive to regular
		  %% exit signals.
		  process_flag(trap_exit, true),
		  Result = gen_server:call({?NAME,Node}, Request, Timeout),
		  exit({self(),Tag,Result})
	  end),
    receive
	{'DOWN',Mref,_,_,{Receiver,Tag,Result}} ->
	    rpc_check(Result);
	{'DOWN',Mref,_,_,Reason} ->
	    %% The middleman code failed. Or someone did 
	    %% exit(_, kill) on the middleman process => Reason==killed
	    rpc_check_t({'EXIT',Reason})
    end.

rpc_check_t({'EXIT', {timeout,_}}) -> {badrpc, timeout};
rpc_check_t(X) -> rpc_check(X).
	    
rpc_check({'EXIT', {{nodedown,_},_}}) ->
    {badrpc, nodedown};
rpc_check({'EXIT', _}=Exit) ->
    %% Should only happen if the rex process on the other node
    %% died.
    {badrpc, Exit};
rpc_check(X) -> X.


%% This is a real handy function to be used when interacting with
%% a server called Name at node Node, It is assumed that the server
%% Receives messages on the form {From, Request} and replies on the
%% form From ! {ReplyWrapper, Node, Reply}.
%% This function makes such a server call and ensures that that
%% The entire call is packed into an atomic transaction which 
%% either succeeds or fails, i.e. never hangs (unless the server itself hangs).

-spec server_call(Node, Name, ReplyWrapper, Msg) -> Reply | {error, Reason} when
      Node :: node(),
      Name :: atom(),
      ReplyWrapper :: term(),
      Msg :: term(),
      Reply :: term(),
      Reason :: nodedown.

server_call(Node, Name, ReplyWrapper, Msg) 
  when is_atom(Node), is_atom(Name) ->
    if node() =:= nonode@nohost, Node =/= nonode@nohost ->
	    {error, nodedown};
       true ->
	    Ref = erlang:monitor(process, {Name, Node}),
	    {Name, Node} ! {self(), Msg},
	    receive
		{'DOWN', Ref, _, _, _} ->
		    {error, nodedown};
		{ReplyWrapper, Node, Reply} ->
		    erlang:demonitor(Ref, [flush]),
		    Reply
	    end
    end.

-spec cast(Node, Module, Function, Args) -> true when
      Node :: node(),
      Module :: module(),
      Function :: atom(),
      Args :: [term()].

cast(Node, Mod, Fun, Args) when Node =:= node() ->
    catch spawn(Mod, Fun, Args),
    true;
cast(Node, Mod, Fun, Args) ->
    gen_server:cast({?NAME,Node}, {cast,Mod,Fun,Args,group_leader()}),
    true.


%% Asynchronous broadcast, returns nothing, it's just send 'n' pray
-spec abcast(Name, Msg) -> abcast when
      Name :: atom(),
      Msg :: term().

abcast(Name, Mess) ->
    abcast([node() | nodes()], Name, Mess).

-spec abcast(Nodes, Name, Msg) -> abcast when
      Nodes :: [node()],
      Name :: atom(),
      Msg :: term().

abcast([Node|Tail], Name, Mess) ->
    Dest = {Name,Node},
    case catch erlang:send(Dest, Mess, [noconnect]) of
	noconnect -> spawn(erlang, send, [Dest,Mess]), ok;
	_ -> ok
    end,
    abcast(Tail, Name, Mess);
abcast([], _,_) -> abcast.


%% Syncronous broadcast, returns a list of the nodes which had Name
%% as a registered server. Returns {Goodnodes, Badnodes}.
%% Syncronous in the sense that we know that all servers have received the
%% message when we return from the call, we can't know that they have
%% processed the message though.

-spec sbcast(Name, Msg) -> {GoodNodes, BadNodes} when
      Name :: atom(),
      Msg :: term(),
      GoodNodes :: [node()],
      BadNodes :: [node()].

sbcast(Name, Mess) ->
    sbcast([node() | nodes()], Name, Mess).

-spec sbcast(Nodes, Name, Msg) -> {GoodNodes, BadNodes} when
      Name :: atom(),
      Msg :: term(),
      Nodes :: [node()],
      GoodNodes :: [node()],
      BadNodes :: [node()].

sbcast(Nodes, Name, Mess) ->
    Monitors = send_nodes(Nodes, ?NAME, {sbcast, Name, Mess}, []),
    rec_nodes(?NAME, Monitors).

-spec eval_everywhere(Module, Function, Args) -> abcast when
      Module :: module(),
      Function :: atom(),
      Args :: [term()].

eval_everywhere(Mod, Fun, Args) ->
    eval_everywhere([node() | nodes()] , Mod, Fun, Args).

-spec eval_everywhere(Nodes, Module, Function, Args) -> abcast when
      Nodes :: [node()],
      Module :: module(),
      Function :: atom(),
      Args :: [term()].

eval_everywhere(Nodes, Mod, Fun, Args) ->
    gen_server:abcast(Nodes, ?NAME, {cast,Mod,Fun,Args,group_leader()}).


send_nodes([Node|Tail], Name, Msg, Monitors) when is_atom(Node) ->
    Monitor = start_monitor(Node, Name),
    %% Handle non-existing names in rec_nodes.
    catch {Name, Node} ! {self(), Msg},
    send_nodes(Tail, Name, Msg, [Monitor | Monitors]);
send_nodes([_Node|Tail], Name, Msg, Monitors) ->
    %% Skip non-atom _Node
    send_nodes(Tail, Name, Msg, Monitors);
send_nodes([], _Name,  _Req, Monitors) -> 
    Monitors.

%% Starts a monitor, either the new way, or the old.
%% Assumes that the arguments are atoms.
start_monitor(Node, Name) ->
    if node() =:= nonode@nohost, Node =/= nonode@nohost ->
	    Ref = make_ref(),
	    self() ! {'DOWN', Ref, process, {Name, Node}, noconnection},
	    {Node, Ref};
       true ->
	    {Node,erlang:monitor(process, {Name, Node})}
    end.


%% Call apply(M,F,A) on all nodes in parallel
-spec multicall(Module, Function, Args) -> {ResL, BadNodes} when
      Module :: module(),
      Function :: atom(),
      Args :: [term()],
      ResL :: [term()],
      BadNodes :: [node()].

multicall(M, F, A) -> 
    multicall(M, F, A, infinity).

-spec multicall(Nodes, Module, Function, Args) -> {ResL, BadNodes} when
                  Nodes :: [node()],
                  Module :: module(),
                  Function :: atom(),
                  Args :: [term()],
                  ResL :: [term()],
                  BadNodes :: [node()];
               (Module, Function, Args, Timeout) -> {ResL, BadNodes} when
                  Module :: module(),
                  Function :: atom(),
                  Args :: [term()],
                  Timeout :: timeout(),
                  ResL :: [term()],
                  BadNodes :: [node()].

multicall(Nodes, M, F, A) when is_list(Nodes) ->
    multicall(Nodes, M, F, A, infinity);
multicall(M, F, A, Timeout) ->
    multicall([node() | nodes()], M, F, A, Timeout).

-spec multicall(Nodes, Module, Function, Args, Timeout) ->
                       {ResL, BadNodes} when
      Nodes :: [node()],
      Module :: module(),
      Function :: atom(),
      Args :: [term()],
      Timeout :: timeout(),
      ResL :: [term()],
      BadNodes :: [node()].

multicall(Nodes, M, F, A, infinity)
  when is_list(Nodes), is_atom(M), is_atom(F), is_list(A) ->
    do_multicall(Nodes, M, F, A, infinity);
multicall(Nodes, M, F, A, Timeout) 
  when is_list(Nodes), is_atom(M), is_atom(F), is_list(A), is_integer(Timeout), 
       Timeout >= 0 ->
    do_multicall(Nodes, M, F, A, Timeout).

do_multicall(Nodes, M, F, A, Timeout) ->
    {Rep,Bad} = gen_server:multi_call(Nodes, ?NAME, 
				      {call, M,F,A, group_leader()}, 
				      Timeout),
    {lists:map(fun({_,R}) -> R end, Rep), Bad}.


%% Send Msg to Name on all nodes, and collect the answers.
%% Return {Replies, Badnodes} where Badnodes is a list of the nodes
%% that failed during the timespan of the call.
%% This function assumes that if we send a request to a server 
%% called Name, the server will reply with a reply
%% on the form {Name, Node, Reply}, otherwise this function will
%% hang forever. 
%% It also assumes that the server receives messages on the form
%% {From, Msg} and then replies as From ! {Name, node(), Reply}.
%%
%% There is no apparent order among the replies.

-spec multi_server_call(Name, Msg) -> {Replies, BadNodes} when
      Name :: atom(),
      Msg :: term(),
      Replies :: [Reply :: term()],
      BadNodes :: [node()].

multi_server_call(Name, Msg) ->
    multi_server_call([node() | nodes()], Name, Msg).

-spec multi_server_call(Nodes, Name, Msg) -> {Replies, BadNodes} when
      Nodes :: [node()],
      Name :: atom(),
      Msg :: term(),
      Replies :: [Reply :: term()],
      BadNodes :: [node()].

multi_server_call(Nodes, Name, Msg) 
  when is_list(Nodes), is_atom(Name) ->
    Monitors = send_nodes(Nodes, Name, Msg, []),
    rec_nodes(Name, Monitors).


rec_nodes(Name, Nodes) -> 
    rec_nodes(Name, Nodes, [], []).

rec_nodes(_Name, [],  Badnodes, Replies) ->
    {Replies, Badnodes};
rec_nodes(Name, [{N,R} | Tail], Badnodes, Replies) ->
    receive
	{'DOWN', R, _, _, _} ->
	    rec_nodes(Name, Tail, [N|Badnodes], Replies);
	{?NAME, N, {nonexisting_name, _}} ->  
	    %% used by sbcast()
	    erlang:demonitor(R, [flush]),
	    rec_nodes(Name, Tail, [N|Badnodes], Replies);
	{Name, N, Reply} ->  %% Name is bound !!!
	    erlang:demonitor(R, [flush]),
	    rec_nodes(Name, Tail, Badnodes, [Reply|Replies])
    end.

%% Now for an asynchronous rpc.
%% An asyncronous version of rpc that is faster for series of
%% rpc's towards the same node. I.e. it returns immediately and 
%% it returns a Key that can be used in a subsequent yield(Key).

-opaque key() :: pid().

-spec async_call(Node, Module, Function, Args) -> Key when
      Node :: node(),
      Module :: module(),
      Function :: atom(),
      Args :: [term()],
      Key :: key().

async_call(Node, Mod, Fun, Args) ->
    ReplyTo = self(),
    spawn(
      fun() ->
	      R = call(Node, Mod, Fun, Args),         %% proper rpc
	      ReplyTo ! {self(), {promise_reply, R}}  %% self() is key
      end).

-spec yield(Key) -> Res | {badrpc, Reason} when
      Key :: key(),
      Res :: term(),
      Reason :: term().

yield(Key) when is_pid(Key) ->
    {value,R} = do_yield(Key, infinity),
    R.

-spec nb_yield(Key, Timeout) -> {value, Val} | timeout when
      Key :: key(),
      Timeout :: timeout(),
      Val :: (Res :: term()) | {badrpc, Reason :: term()}.

nb_yield(Key, infinity=Inf) when is_pid(Key) ->
    do_yield(Key, Inf);
nb_yield(Key, Timeout) when is_pid(Key), is_integer(Timeout), Timeout >= 0 ->
    do_yield(Key, Timeout).

-spec nb_yield(Key) -> {value, Val} | timeout when
      Key :: key(),
      Val :: (Res :: term()) | {badrpc, Reason :: term()}.

nb_yield(Key) when is_pid(Key) ->
    do_yield(Key, 0).

-spec do_yield(pid(), timeout()) -> {'value', _} | 'timeout'.

do_yield(Key, Timeout) ->
    receive
        {Key,{promise_reply,R}} ->
            {value,R}
        after Timeout ->
            timeout
    end.


%% A parallel network evaluator
%% ArgL === [{M,F,Args},........]
%% Returns a lists of the evaluations in the same order as 
%% given to ArgL
-spec parallel_eval(FuncCalls) -> ResL when
      FuncCalls :: [{Module, Function, Args}],
      Module :: module(),
      Function :: atom(),
      Args :: [term()],
      ResL :: [term()].

parallel_eval(ArgL) ->
    Nodes = [node() | nodes()],
    Keys = map_nodes(ArgL,Nodes,Nodes),
    [yield(K) || K <- Keys].

map_nodes([],_,_) -> [];
map_nodes(ArgL,[],Original) ->
    map_nodes(ArgL,Original,Original); 
map_nodes([{M,F,A}|Tail],[Node|MoreNodes], Original) ->
    [?MODULE:async_call(Node,M,F,A) | 
     map_nodes(Tail,MoreNodes,Original)].

%% Parallel version of lists:map/3 with exactly the same 
%% arguments and return value as lists:map/3,
%% except that it calls exit/1 if a network error occurs.
-spec pmap(FuncSpec, ExtraArgs, List1) -> List2 when
      FuncSpec :: {Module,Function},
      Module :: module(),
      Function :: atom(),
      ExtraArgs :: [term()],
      List1 :: [Elem :: term()],
      List2 :: [term()].

pmap({M,F}, As, List) ->
    check(parallel_eval(build_args(M,F,As, List, [])), []).

%% By using an accumulator twice we get the whole thing right
build_args(M,F, As, [Arg|Tail], Acc) ->
    build_args(M,F, As, Tail, [{M,F,[Arg|As]}|Acc]);
build_args(M,F, _, [], Acc) when is_atom(M), is_atom(F) -> Acc.

%% If one single call fails, we fail the whole computation
check([{badrpc, _}|_], _) -> exit(badrpc);
check([X|T], Ack) -> check(T, [X|Ack]);
check([], Ack) -> Ack.


%% location transparent version of process_info
-spec pinfo(Pid) -> [{Item, Info}] | undefined when
      Pid :: pid(),
      Item :: atom(),
      Info :: term().

pinfo(Pid) when node(Pid) =:= node() ->
    process_info(Pid);
pinfo(Pid) ->
    call(node(Pid), erlang, process_info, [Pid]).

-spec pinfo(Pid, Item) -> {Item, Info} | undefined | [] when
      Pid :: pid(),
      Item :: atom(),
      Info :: term();
           (Pid, ItemList) -> [{Item, Info}] | undefined | [] when
      Pid :: pid(),
      Item :: atom(),
      ItemList :: [Item],
      Info :: term().

pinfo(Pid, Item) when node(Pid) =:= node() ->
    process_info(Pid, Item);
pinfo(Pid, Item) ->
    block_call(node(Pid), erlang, process_info, [Pid, Item]).