# FBB::Selector(3bobcat)

## Timed Delays, Multiple File I/O
(libbobcat-dev_6.07.01)

## 2005-2025

## NAME

FBB::Selector - Timed delays, Alarms and Multiple File I/O.

## SYNOPSIS

#include <bobcat/selector>
Linking option: -lbobcat

## DESCRIPTION

FBB::Selector objects are wrappers around the select(2) system calls and allow timed delays, alarm functionality and/or multiple file I/O. It requires the use of file descriptors, which are not an official part of C++. However, most operating systems offer file descriptors. Sockets are well-known file descriptors.

## NAMESPACE

FBB
All constructors, members, operators and manipulators, mentioned in this man-page, are defined in the namespace FBB.

## INHERITS FROM

-

## CONSTRUCTORS

- Selector():
  This constructor initializes the object.

Copy and move constructors (and assignment operators) are available.

## MEMBER FUNCTIONS

- void addExceptFd(int fd):
  Adds a filedescriptor to the set of file descriptors that are monitored for exceptions (note these are not C++ exceptions. See man 2 select for details).
- void addReadFd(int fd):
  Adds a filedescriptor to the set of file descriptors that are monitored for reading.
- void addWriteFd(int fd):
  Adds a filedescriptor to the set of file descriptors that are monitored for writing.
- int exceptFd():
  Returns -1 of no more file descriptors are available in the exception category. Otherwise the next available file descriptor in the exception category is returned. Returning from wait, this function can be called repeatedly until -1 is returned, servicing each available filedescriptor in turn.
- void noAlarm():
  This member prevents any timeout-alarm from occurring.
- int nReady():
  Returns the number of available file descriptors. 0 is returned at a timeout, -1: is returned when select(2) itself failed.
- int readFd():
  Returns -1 of no more file descriptors are available for reading. Otherwise the next available file descriptor for reading is returned. Returning from wait, this function can be called repeatedly until -1 is returned, servicing each available filedescriptor in turn. Note that the file whose file descriptor is returned by readFd may also be at its end-of-file position. The file is `ready for reading', but no characters will be returned when trying to read from it due to its end-of-file status. In that case the file descriptor is probably best removed from the set of active file descriptors.
- void rmExceptFd(int fd):
  Removes a filedescriptor from the set of file descriptors that are monitored for exceptions (note these are not C++ exceptions. See man 2 select for details).
- void rmReadFd(int fd):
  Removes a filedescriptor from the set of file descriptors that are monitored for reading.
- void rmWriteFd(int fd):
  Removes a filedescriptor from the set of file descriptors that are monitored for writing.
- void setAlarm(int sec, int usec = 0):
  This member sets the alarm at the indicated seconds and micro-seconds. If no action occurred on one of the monitored file descriptions following the indicated amount of time, wait will return with nReady returning 0. The requested alarm time (sec + usec / 1e+6) may not be negative and may not exceed std::numeric_limits<int>::max() or an FBB::Exception exception will be thrown. A 0 alarm time specification results in wait returning immediately. To switch off the alarm time use noAlarm.
- int wait():
  This member should be called to wait for activities on the installed file descriptors or timeout-period. The members exceptFd, nReady, readFd and writeFd show their defined behaviors only after wait has returned.

  It throws an FBB::Exception exception when select(2) fails, which may very well indicate the end of any available input. An exception is also thrown if the program received a signal.

  If wait returns normally its return value represents the number of available file descriptors. Note that wait may also return with an input file descriptor returned by readFd of a file at its end-of-file position. The file is `ready for reading', but no characters will be returned when trying to read from it due to its end-of-file status.

- int writeFd():
  Returns -1 of no more file descriptors are available for writing. Otherwise the next available file descriptor for writing is returned. Returning from wait, this function can be called repeatedly until -1 is returned, servicing each available filedescriptor in turn.

## EXAMPLE

    #include <string>
    #include <iostream>

    #include <bobcat/selector>
    #include <bobcat/exception>

    using namespace std;
    using namespace FBB;

    int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
    try
    {
        Selector selector;

        selector.setAlarm(5);               // every 5 secs: alarm fires
        selector.addReadFd(STDIN_FILENO);   // look also at cin

        while (true)
        {
            if (!selector.wait())           // 0: alarm fires
                cout << "Are you still there?" << endl;
            else
            {
                string s;
                if (!getline(cin, s) || !s.length())
                    return 0;
                cout << "Thank you for: " << s << endl;
            }
        }
    }
    catch (Exception const &e)
    {
        cout << e.what() << '\n';
        return 1;
    }

## FILES

bobcat/selector - defines the class interface

## SEE ALSO

bobcat(7), select(2)

## BUGS

None reported

## BOBCAT PROJECT FILES

- https://fbb-git.gitlab.io/bobcat/: gitlab project page;

Debian Bobcat project files:

- libbobcat6: debian package containing the shared library, changelog and copyright note;
- libbobcat-dev: debian package containing the static library, headers, manual pages, and developer info;

## BOBCAT

Bobcat is an acronym of `Brokken's Own Base Classes And Templates'.

## COPYRIGHT

This is free software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL).

## AUTHOR

Frank B. Brokken (f.b.brokken@rug.nl).