man POE::Session () - an event driven abstract state machine

NAME

POE::Session - an event driven abstract state machine

SYNOPSIS

  # Import POE::Session constants.
  use POE::Session;

  # The older, more DWIMmy constructor, which will soon be deprecated
  # (i.e., DON'T USE THIS).
  POE::Session->new(

    # Inline or coderef states.
    state_one => \&coderef_one,
    state_two => sub { ... },

    # Plain object and package states.
    $object_one  => [ 'state_three', 'state_four',  'state_five'  ],
    $package_one => [ 'state_six',   'state_seven', 'state_eight' ],

    # Mapped object and package states.
    $object_two  => { state_nine => 'method_nine', ... },
    $package_two => { state_ten  => 'method_ten', ... },

    # Parameters for the session's _start state.
    \@start_args,
  );

  # The newer, more explicit and safer constructor.
  POE::Session->create(

    # Inline or coderef states.
    inline_states => {
      state_one => \&coderef_one,
      state_two => sub { ... },
    },

    # Plain and mapped object states.
    object_states => [
      $object_one => [ 'state_three', 'state_four', 'state_five' ],
      $object_two => { state_nine => 'method_nine' },
    ],

    # Plain and mapped package states.
    package_states => [
      $package_one => [ 'state_six', 'state_seven', 'state_eight' ],
      $package_two => { state_ten => 'method_ten' },
    ],

    # Parameters for the session's _start state.
    args => [ argument_zero, argument_one, ... ],

    # Initial options.  See the option() method.
    options => \%options,

    # Change the session's heap representation.
    heap => [ ],
  );

Other methods:

  # Retrieve a session's unique identifier.
  $session_id = $session->ID;

  # Retrieve a reference to the session's heap.
  $session_heap = $session->get_heap();

  # Set or clear session options.
  $session->option( trace => 1, default => 1 );
  $session->option( trace );

  # Create a postback, then invoke it and pass back additional
  # information.
  $postback_coderef = $session->postback( $state_name, @state_args );
  $postback_coderef->( @additional_args );

  # Or do the same thing synchronously
  $callback_coderef = $session->callback( $state_name, @state_args );
  $retval = $callback_coderef->( @additional_args );

DESCRIPTION

POE::Session combines a runtime context with an event driven state machine. Together they implement a simple cooperatively timesliced thread.

Sessions receive their timeslices as events from POE::Kernel. Each event has two fields, a state name and a session identifier. These fields describe the code to run and the context to run it in, respectively. Events carry several other fields which will be discussed in the Predefined Event Fields section.

States are re-entrant since they are invoked with their runtime contexts. Although it's not usually necessary, this re-entrancy allows a single function to be bound to several different sessions, under several different state names.

As sessions run, they post new events through the Kernel. These events may be for themselves or other sessions, in which case they act as a form of inter-session communications. The Kernel can also generate events based on external conditions such as file activity or the passage of time.

POE provides some convenient built-in states with special meanings. They will be covered later on in the Predefined States section.

PUBLIC METHODS

ID
ID() returns the session instance's unique identifier. This is a number that starts with 1 and counts up forever, or until something causes the number to wrap. It's theoretically possible that session IDs may collide after about 4.29 billion sessions have been created.
create LOTS_OF_STUFF
create() is the recommended Session constructor. It binds states to their corresponding event names, initializes other parts of the session, and then fires off its CW_start state, possibly with some parameters. create's parameters look like a hash of name/value pairs, but it's really just a list. create() is preferred over the older, more DWIMmy new() constructor because each kind of parameter is explicitly named. This makes it easier for maintainers to understand the constructor call, and it lets the constructor unambiguously recognize and validate parameters. CWcreate() returns a reference to the newly created session but it is recommended not to save this. POE::Kernel manages sessions and will ensure timely destruction of them as long as extra references to them aren't hanging around.
args => LISTREF
The CWargs parameter accepts a reference to a list of parameters that will be passed to the machine's CW_start state. They are passed in the CW_start event's CWARG0..$#_ fields.
  args => [ 'arg0', 'arg1', 'etc.' ],
  sub _start {
    my @args = @_[ARG0..#$_];
    print "I received these parameters from create()'s args: @args\n";
  }
heap => ANYTHING
The CWheap parameter defines a session's heap. The heap is passed into states as the CW$_[HEAP] field. Heaps are anonymous hash references by default.
  POE::Session->create( ..., heap => { runstate_variable => 1 }, ... );
  sub state_function {
    my $heap = $_[HEAP];
    print "runstate variable is $heap->{runstate_variable}\n";
  }
It's also possible to use create's CWheap parameter to change the heap into something completely different, such as a list reference or even an object.
  sub RUNSTATE_VARIABLE () { 0 } # offset into the heap
  POE::Session->create( ..., heap => [ 1 ], ... );
  sub state_function {
    my $heap = $_[HEAP];
    print "runstate variable is ", $heap->[RUNSTATE_VARIABLE], "\n";
  }
inline_states => HASHREF
CWinline_states maps events names to the plain coderefs which will handle them. Its value is a reference to a hash of event names and corresponding coderefs.
  inline_states => {
    _start => sub { print "arg0=$_[ARG0], arg1=$_[ARG1], etc.=$_[ARG2]\n"; }
    _stop  => \&stop_handler,
  },
These states are called inline because they can be inline anonymous subs.
object_states => LISTREF
CWobject_states maps event names to the object methods which will handle them. Its value is a listref of object references and the methods to use. It's a listref because using a hashref would stringify its keys, and the object references would become unusable. The object's methods can be specified in two ways. The first form associates a listref to each object reference. This form maps each event to an object method with the same name. In this example, CWevent_one is handled by CW$object's CWevent_one() method.
  object_states => [
    $object => [ 'event_one', 'event_two' ],
  ];
The second form associates a hashref to each object reference. In turn, the hashref maps each event name to a method in the object. In this form, the object's method names needn't match the event names they'll handle. For example, CWevent_four is handled by CW$object's CWhandler_four() method.
  object_states => [
    $object => {
      event_three => 'handler_three',
      event_four  => 'handler_four',
    }
  ];
options => HASHREF
CWoptions contains a new session's initial options. It's equivalent to creating the session and then calling its option() method to set them. HASHREF contains a set of option/value pairs. These two statements are equivalent:
  POE::Session->create(
    ...,
    options => { trace => 1, debug => 1 },
    ...,
  );
  POE::Session->create(
    ...,
  )->option( trace => 1, debug => 1 );
See the option() method for a list of options and values.
package_states => LISTREF
CWpackage_states maps event names to the package methods which will handle them. It's very similar to CWobject_states. CWpackage_states' value is a listref of package names and the methods to use. It's a listref for consistency with CWobject_states. The package's methods can be specified in two ways. The first form associates a listref to each package name. This form maps each event to a package method with the same name. In this example, CWevent_ten is handled by CWPackage's CWevent_ten() method.
  package_states => [
    Package => [ 'event_ten', 'event_eleven' ],
  ];
The second form associates a hashref to each package name. In turn, the hashref maps each event name to a method in the package. In this form, the package's method names needn't match the event names they'll handle. For example, CWevent_twelve is handled by CWPackage's CWhandler_twelve() method.
  package_states => [
    Package => {
      event_twelve   => 'handler_twelve',
      event_thirteen => 'handler_thirteen',
    }
  ];
new LOTS_OF_STUFF
WARNING: CWnew() will be deprecated as per POE's roadmap. The actual schedule can be seen at <http://poe.perl.org/?POE_RFCs/Change_procedures>. You can track the deprecation by visiting <http://rt.cpan.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=8462>. CWnew() is Session's older constructor. Its design was clever at the time, but it didn't expand well. It's still useful for quick one-line hacks, but consider using CWcreate() for more complex sessions. CWnew() returns a reference to the newly created session but it is recommended not to save this. POE::Kernel manages sessions and will ensure timely destruction of them as long as extra references to them aren't hanging around. Inline states, object states, package states, and _start arguments are all inferred by their contexts. This context sensitivity makes it harder for maintainers to understand what's going on, and it allows errors to be interpreted as different behavior. Inline states are specified as a scalar mapped to a coderef.
  event_one => \&state_one,
  event_two => sub { ... },
Object states are specified as object references mapped to list or hash references. Objects that are mapped to listrefs will handle events with identically named methods.
  $object_one => [ 'event_one', 'event_two' ],
Objects that are mapped to hashrefs can handle events with differently named methods.
  $object_two => { event_ten => 'method_foo', event_eleven => 'method_bar' },
Package states are specified as package names mapped to list or hash references. Package names that are mapped to listrefs will handle events with identically named methods.
  PackageOne => [ 'event_five', 'event_six' ],
Package names that are mapped to hashrefs can handle events with differently named methods.
  PackageTwo => { event_seven => 'method_baz', event_eight => 'method_quux' },
Arguments for the CW_start state are specified as listrefs.
  [ 'arg0', 'arg1', ... ],
So, in summary, the rules for this constructor are:
  If a scalar appears as the "key" field ...
    If a coderef appears as its "value" ...
      Then it's an inline event handler.
    If a listref appears as its "value" ...
      Then it's a set of package states with the same names.
    If a hashref appears as its "value" ...
      Then it's a set of package states with possibly different names.
    Otherwise, it's an error.
  If an object reference appears as the "key" field ...
    If a listref appears as its "value" ...
      Then it's a set of object states with the same names.
    If a hashref appears as its "value" ...
      Then it's a set of object states with possibly different names.
    Otherwise, it's an error.
  If a listref appears as the "key" field ...
    Then it's a set of C<_start> arguments, and it has no "value".
option OPTION_NAME
option OPTION_NAME, OPTION_VALUE
option NAME_VALUE_PAIR_LIST
CWoption() sets and/or retrieves options' values. The first form returns the value of a single option, OPTION_NAME, without changing it.
  my $trace_value = $_[SESSION]->option( 'trace' );
The second form sets OPTION_NAME to OPTION_VALUE, returning the previous value of OPTION_NAME.
  my $old_trace_value = $_[SESSION]->option( trace => $new_trace_value );
The final form sets several options, returning a hashref containing pairs of option names and their previous values.
  my $old_values = $_[SESSION]->option( trace => $new_trace_value,
    debug => $new_debug_value,
  );
  print "Old option values:\n";
  while (my ($option, $old_value) = each %$old_values) {
    print "$option = $old_value\n";
  }
postback EVENT_NAME, EVENT_PARAMETERS
callback EVENT_NAME, EVENT_PARAMETERS
postback() and callback() create anonymous coderefs that may be used as callbacks for other libraries. A contrived example:
  my $postback = $session->postback( event_one => 1, 2, 3 );
  my $callback = $session->callback( event_two => 5, 6, 7 );
  use File::Find;
  find( $callback, @directories_to_search );
  $poe_main_window->Button(
    -text    => 'Begin Slow and Fast Alarm Counters',
    -command => $postback,
  )->pack;
When called, postbacks and callbacks fire POE events. Postbacks use CW$kernel->post(), and callbacks use CW$kernel->call(). See POE::Kernel for post() and call() documentation. Each takes an EVENT_NAME, which is the name of the event to fire when called. Any other EVENT_PARAMETERS are passed to the event's handler as a list reference in ARG0. Calling CW<$postback-(a, b, c)>> results in event_one's handler being called with the following arguments:
  sub handle_event_one {
    my $passed_through = $_[ARG0];  # [ 1, 2, 3 ]
    my $passed_back    = $_[ARG1];  # [ "a", "b", "c" ]
  }
Calling CW<$callback-(m, n, o)>> does the same:
  sub handle_event_two {
    my $passed_through = $_[ARG0];  # [ 5, 6, 7 ]
    my $passed_back    = $_[ARG1];  # [ "m", "n", "o" ]
  }
Therefore you can use ARG0 to pass state through a callback, while ARG1 contains information provided by the external library to its callbacks. Postbacks and callbacks use reference counts to keep the sessions they are called upon alive. This prevents sessions from disappearing while other code expects them to handle callbacks. The Tk Button code above is an example of this in action. The session will not stop until the widget releases its postback. The difference between postback() and callback() is subtle but can cause all manner of grief if you are not aware of it. Postback handlers are not called right away since they are triggered by events posted through the queue. Callback handlers are invoked immediately since they are triggered by call(). Some libraries expect their callbacks to be invoked immediately. They may go so far as to set up global variables for the duration of the callback. File::Find is such a library. Each callback receives a new filename in CW$_. Delaying these callbacks until later means that CW$_ will not contain expected values. It is necessary to use callback() in these cases. Most libraries pass state to their callbacks as parameters. Generally, postback() is the way to go. Since postback() and callback() are Session methods, they may be called on CW$_[SESSION] or CW$_[SENDER], depending on particular needs. There are usually better ways to interact between sessions, however.
get_heap
CWget_heap() returns a reference to a session's heap. It's the same value that's passed to every state via the CWHEAP field, so it's not necessary within states. Combined with the Kernel's CWget_active_session() method, CWget_heap() lets libraries access a Session's heap without having to be given it. It's convenient, for example, to write a function like this:
  sub put_stuff {
    my @stuff_to_put = @_;
    $poe_kernel->get_active_session()->get_heap()->{wheel}->put(
      @stuff_to_put
    );
  }
  sub some_state {
    ...;
    &put_stuff( @stuff_to_put );
  }
While it's more efficient to pass CWHEAP along, it's also less convenient.
  sub put_stuff {
    my ($heap, @stuff_to_put) = @_;
    $heap->{wheel}->put( @stuff_to_put );
  }
  sub some_state {
    ...;
    &put_stuff( $_[HEAP], @stuff_to_put );
  }
Although if you expect to have a lot of calls to &put_a_wheel() in your program, you may want to optimize for programmer efficiency by using the first form.

PREDEFINED EVENT FIELDS

Each session maintains its unique runtime context. Sessions pass their contexts on to their states through a series of standard parameters. These parameters tell each state about its Kernel, its Session, itself, and the events that invoke it.

State parameters' offsets into CW@_ are never used directly. Instead they're referenced by symbolic constant. This lets POE to change their order without breaking programs, since the constants will always be correct.

These are the CW@_ fields that make up a session's runtime context.

ARG0
ARG1
ARG2
ARG3
ARG4
ARG5
ARG6
ARG7
ARG8
ARG9
CWARG0..ARG9 are a state's first ten custom parameters. They will always be at the end of CW@_, so it's possible to access more than ten parameters with CW$_[ARG9+1] or even this:
  my @args = @_[ARG0..$#_];
The custom parameters often correspond to PARAMETER_LIST in many of the Kernel's methods. This passes the words zero through four to CWsome_state as CW@_[ARG0..ARG4]:
  $_[KERNEL]->yield( some_state => qw( zero one two three four ) );
Only CWARG0 is really needed. CWARG1 is just CWARG0+1, and so on.
HEAP
CWHEAP is a session's unique runtime storage space. It's separate from everything else so that Session authors don't need to worry about namespace collisions. States that store their runtime values in the CWHEAP will always be saving it in the correct session. This makes them re-entrant, which will be a factor when Perl's threading stops being experimental.
  sub _start {
    $_[HEAP]->{start_time} = time();
  }
  sub _stop {
    my $elapsed_runtime = time() - $_[HEAP]->{start_time};
    print 'Session ', $_[SESSION]->ID, " elapsed runtime: $elapsed_runtime\n";
  }
KERNEL
CWKERNEL is a reference to the Kernel. It's used to access the Kernel's methods from within states.
  # Fire a "time_is_up" event in ten seconds.
  $_[KERNEL]->delay( time_is_up => 10 );
It can also be used with CWSENDER to make sure Kernel events have actually come from the Kernel.
OBJECT
CWOBJECT is only meaningful in object and package states. In object states, it contains a reference to the object whose method is being invoked. This is useful for invoking plain object methods once an event has arrived.
  sub ui_update_everything {
    my $object = $_[OBJECT];
    $object->update_menu();
    $object->update_main_window();
    $object->update_status_line();
  }
In package states, it contains the name of the package whose method is being invoked. Again, it's useful for invoking plain package methods once an event has arrived.
  sub Package::_stop {
    $_[PACKAGE]->shutdown();
  }
CWOBJECT is undef in inline states.
SENDER
CWSENDER is a reference to the session that sent an event. It can be used as a return address for service requests. It can also be used to validate events and ignore them if they've come from unexpected places. This example shows both common uses. It posts a copy of an event back to its sender unless the sender happens to be itself. The condition is important in preventing infinite loops.
  sub echo_event {
    $_[KERNEL]->post( $_[SENDER], $_[STATE], @_[ARG0..$#_] )
      unless $_[SENDER] == $_[SESSION];
  }
SESSION
CWSESSION is a reference to the current session. This lets states access their own session's methods, and it's a convenient way to determine whether CWSENDER is the same session.
  sub enable_trace {
    $_[SESSION]->option( trace => 1 );
    print "Session ", $_[SESSION]->ID, ": dispatch trace is now on.\n";
  }
STATE
CWSTATE contains the event name that invoked a state. This is useful in cases where a single state handles several different events.
  sub some_state {
    print(
      "some_state in session ", $_[SESSION]-ID,
      " was invoked as ", $_[STATE], "\n"
    );
  }
  POE::Session->create(
    inline_states => {
      one => \&some_state,
      two => \&some_state,
      six => \&some_state,
      ten => \&some_state,
    }
  );
CALLER_FILE
CALLER_LINE
CALLER_STATE
  my ($caller_file, $caller_line, $caller_state) =
    @_[CALLER_FILE,  CALLER_LINE,  CALLER_STATE];
The file, line number, and state from which this state was called.

PREDEFINED EVENT NAMES

POE contains helpers which, in order to help, need to emit predefined events. These events all being with a single leading underscore, and it's recommended that sessions not post leading-underscore events unless they know what they're doing.

Predefined events generally have serious side effects. The CW_start event, for example, performs a lot of internal session initialization. Posting a redundant CW_start event may try to allocate a session that already exists, which in turn would do terrible, horrible things to the Kernel's internal data structures. Such things would normally be outlawed outright, but the extra overhead to check for them would slow everything down all the time. Please be careful! The clock cycles you save may be your own.

These are the predefined events, why they're emitted, and what their parameters mean.

_child
CW_child is a job-control event. It notifies a parent session when its set of child sessions changes. CWARG0 contains one of three strings describing what is happening to the child session.
'create'
A child session has just been created, and the current session is its original parent.
'gain'
This session is gaining a new child from a child session that has stopped. A grandchild session is being passed one level up the inheritance tree.
'lose'
This session is losing a child which has stopped. CWARG1 is a reference to the child session. It will still be valid, even if the child is in its death throes, but it won't last long enough to receive posted events. If the parent must interact with this child, it should do so with CWcall() or some other means. CWARG2 is only valid when a new session has been created or an old one destroyed. It holds the return value from the child session's CW_start or CW_stop state when CWARG0 is 'create' or 'lose', respectively.
_default
CW_default is the event that's delivered whenever an event isn't handled. The unhandled event becomes parameters for CW_default. It's perfectly okay to post events to a session that can't handle them. When this occurs, the session's CW_default handler is invoked instead. If the session doesn't have a CW_default handler, then the event is quietly discarded. Quietly discarding events is a feature, but it makes catching mistyped event names kind of hard. There are a couple ways around this: One is to define event names as symbolic constants. Perl will catch typos at compile time. The second way around it is to turn on a session's CWdebug option (see Session's CWoption() method). This makes unhandled events hard runtime errors. As was previously mentioned, unhandled events become CW_default's parameters. The original state's name is preserved in CWARG0 while its custom parameter list is preserved as a reference in CWARG1.
  sub _default {
    print "Default caught an unhandled $_[ARG0] event.\n";
    print "The $_[ARG0] event was given these parameters: @{$_[ARG1]}\n";
  }
All the other CW_default parameters are the same as the unhandled event's, with the exception of CWSTATE, which becomes CW_default. It is highly recommended that CW_default handlers always return false. CW_default handlers will often catch signals, so they must return false if the signals are expected to stop a program. Otherwise only SIGKILL will work. POE::Kernel discusses signal handlers in Signal Watcher Methods. It also covers the pitfalls of CW_default states in more detail
_parent
CW_parent It notifies child sessions that their parent sessions are in the process of changing. It is the complement to CW_child. CWARG0 contains the session's previous parent, and CWARG1 contains its new parent.
_start
CW_start is a session's initialization event. It tells a session that the Kernel has allocated and initialized resources for it, and it may now start doing things. A session's constructors invokes the CW_start handler before it returns, so it's possible for some sessions' CW_start states to run before CW$poe_kernel->run() is called. Every session must have a CW_start handler. Its parameters are slightly different from normal ones. CWSENDER contains a reference to the new session's parent. Sessions created before CW$poe_kernel->run() is called will have CWKERNEL as their parents. CWARG0..$#_ contain the parameters passed into the Session's constructor. See Session's CWnew() and CWcreate() methods for more information on passing parameters to new sessions.
_stop
CW_stop is sent to a session when it's about to stop. This usually occurs when a session has run out of events to handle and resources to generate new events. The CW_stop handler is used to perform shutdown tasks, such as releasing custom resources and breaking circular references so that Perl's garbage collection will properly destroy things. Because a session is destroyed after a CW_stop handler returns, any POE things done from a CW_stop handler may not work. For example, posting events from CW_stop will be ineffective since part of the Session cleanup is removing posted events.
Signal Events
CWARG0 contains the signal's name as it appears in Perl's CW%SIG hash. That is, it is the root name of the signal without the SIG prefix. POE::Kernel discusses exceptions to this, namely that CLD will be presented as CHLD. The Signal Watcher Methods section in POE::Kernel is recommended reading before using signal events. It discusses the different signal levels and the mechanics of signal propagation.

MISCELLANEOUS CONCEPTS

States' Return Values

States are always evaluated in a scalar context. States that must return more than one value should therefore return them as a reference to something bigger.

States may not return references to objects in the POE namespace. The Kernel will stringify these references to prevent them from lingering and breaking its own garbage collection.

Resource Tracking

POE::Kernel tracks resources on behalf of its active sessions. It generates events corresponding to these resources' activity, notifying sessions when it's time to do things.

The conversation goes something like this.

  Session: Be a dear, Kernel, and let me know when someone clicks on
           this widget.  Thanks so much!

  [TIME PASSES]  [SFX: MOUSE CLICK]

  Kernel: Right, then.  Someone's clicked on your widget.
          Here you go.

Furthermore, since the Kernel keeps track of everything sessions do, it knows when a session has run out of tasks to perform. When this happens, the Kernel emits a CW_stop event at the dead session so it can clean up and shutdown.

  Kernel: Please switch off the lights and lock up; it's time to go.

Likewise, if a session stops on its own and there still are opened resource watchers, the Kernel knows about them and cleans them up on the session's behalf. POE excels at long-running services because it so meticulously tracks and cleans up its resources.

Synchronous and Asynchronous Events

While time's passing, however, the Kernel may be telling Session other things are happening. Or it may be telling other Sessions about things they're interested in. Or everything could be quiet... perhaps a little too quiet. Such is the nature of non-blocking, cooperative timeslicing, which makes up the heart of POE's threading.

Some resources must be serviced right away, or they'll faithfully continue reporting their readiness. These reports would appear as a stream of duplicate events, which would be bad. These are synchronous events because they're handled right away.

The other kind of event is called asynchronous because they're posted and dispatched through a queue. There's no telling just when they'll arrive.

Synchronous event handlers should perform simple tasks limited to handling the resources that invoked them. They are very much like device drivers in this regard.

Synchronous events that need to do more than just service a resource should pass the resource's information to an asynchronous handler. Otherwise synchronous operations will occur out of order in relation to asynchronous events. It's very easy to have race conditions or break causality this way, so try to avoid it unless you're okay with the consequences.

Postbacks

Many external libraries expect plain coderef callbacks, but sometimes programs could use asynchronous events instead. POE::Session's CWpostback() method was created to fill this need.

CWpostback() creates coderefs suitable to be used in traditional callbacks. When invoked as callbacks, these coderefs post their parameters as POE events. This lets POE interact with nearly every callback currently in existing, and most future ones.

Job Control and Family Values

Sessions are resources, too. The Kernel watches sessions come and go, maintains parent/child relationships, and notifies sessions when these relationships change. These events, CW_parent and CW_child, are useful for job control and managing pools of worker sessions.

Parent/child relationships are maintained automatically. Child sessions simply are ones which have been created from an existing session. The existing session which created a child becomes its parent.

A session with children will not spontaneously stop. In other words, the presence of child sessions will keep a parent alive.

Session's Debugging Features

POE::Session contains a two debugging assertions, for now.

ASSERT_DEFAULT
ASSERT_DEFAULT is used as the default value for all the other assert constants. Setting it true is a quick and reliably way to ensure all Session assertions are enabled. Session's ASSERT_DEFAULT inherits Kernel's ASSERT_DEFAULT value unless overridden.
ASSERT_STATES
Setting ASSERT_STATES to true causes every Session to warn when they are asked to handle unknown events. Session.pm implements the guts of ASSERT_STATES by defaulting the default option to true instead of false. See the option() function earlier in this document for details about the default option.

SEE ALSO

POE::Kernel.

The SEE ALSO section in POE contains a table of contents covering the entire POE distribution.

BUGS

There is a chance that session IDs may collide after Perl's integer value wraps. This can occur after as few as 4.29 billion sessions.

AUTHORS & COPYRIGHTS

Please see POE for more information about authors and contributors.