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authorJosé Bollo <jose.bollo@iot.bzh>2016-06-23 20:34:57 +0200
committerJosé Bollo <jose.bollo@iot.bzh>2016-06-23 20:42:57 +0200
commit7059e59cddc1c81321639875636e88895bc14309 (patch)
tree2e857745ae2dd18814bdfe2d6e3806151a51a43e /doc/afb-plugin-writing.md
parentef908d903929988ad01f9df94415fc9c3ddebcac (diff)
vocabulary: moving from 'plugin' to 'binding'
Change-Id: Ic9e118df2bede1fefbb591f8ae7887266b7324ca Signed-off-by: José Bollo <jose.bollo@iot.bzh>
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-HOWTO WRITE a PLUGIN for AFB-DAEMON
-===================================
- version: 1
- Date: 09 juin 2016
- Author: José Bollo
-
-
-
-Summary
--------
-
-Afb-daemon binders serve files through HTTP protocol
-and offers to developers the capability to expose application API methods through
-HTTP or WebSocket protocol.
-
-Binder plugins are used to add API to afb-daemon.
-This part describes how to write a plugin for afb-daemon.
-
-Excepting this summary, this document target developers.
-
-Before moving further through an example, here after
-a short overview of binder plugins fundamentals.
-
-### Nature of a plugin
-
-A plugin is an independent piece of software. A plugin is self contain and exposes application logic as sharable library.
-A plugin is intended to be dynamically loaded by afb-daemon to expose application API.
-
-Technically, a binder plugin does not reference and is not linked with any afb-daemon library.
-
-### Class of plugins
-
-Application binder supports two kinds of plugins: application plugins and service plugins.
-Technically both class of plugin are equivalent are use the same coding convention. Only sharing mode and security context diverge.
-
-#### Application-plugins
-
-Application-plugins implements the glue in between application's UI and services. Every AGL application
-has a corresponding binder that typically activates one or many plugins to interface the application logic with lower platform services.
-When an application is started by the AGL application framework, a dedicate binder is started that loads/activates application plugin(s).
-API expose by application-plugin are executed within corresponding application security context.
-
-Application plugins generally handle a unique context for a unique client. As the application framework start
-a dedicated instance of afb_daemon for each AGL application, if a given plugin is used within multiple application each of those
-application get a new and private instance of eventually "shared" plugin.
-
-#### Service-plugins
-
-Service-plugins enable API activation within corresponding service security context and not within calling application context.
-Service-plugins are intended to run as a unique instance. Service-plugins can be shared in between multiple clients.
-
-Service-plugins can either be stateless or manage client context. When managing context each client get a private context.
-
-Sharing may either be global to the platform (ie: GPS service) or dedicated to a given user (ie: user preferences)
-
-### Live cycle of plugins within afb-daemon
-
-Application and service plugins are loaded and activated each time a new afb-daemon is started.
-
-At launch time, every loaded plugin initialise itself.
-If a single plugin initialisation fail corresponding instance of afb-daemon self aborts.
-
-Conversely, when a plugin initialisation succeeds, it should register
-its unique name as well as the list of verbs attached to the methods it exposes.
-
-When initialised, on request from application clients to the right API/verb, plugin methods
-are activated by the afb-daemon attached to the application or service.
-
-At exit time, no special action is enforced by afb-daemon. When a specific actions is required at afb-daemon stop,
-developers should use 'atexit/on_exit' during plugin initialisation sequence to register a custom exit function.
-
-### Plugin Contend
-
-Afb-daemon's plugin register two classes of objects: names and functions.
-
-Plugins declare categories of names:
- - A unique plugin name to access all API expose by this plugin,
- - One name for each methods/verbs provided by this plugin.
-
-Plugins declare two categories of functions:
- - function use for the initialisation
- - functions implementing exposed API methods
-
-Afb-daemon parses URI requests to extract the API(plugin name) and the VERB(method to activate).
-As an example, URI **foo/bar** translates to plugin named **foo** and method named **bar**.
-To serve such a request, afb-daemon looks for an active plugin named **foo** and then within this plugin for a method named **bar**.
-When find afb-daemon calls corresponding method with attached parameter if any.
-
-Afb-daemon ignores letter case when parsing URI. Thus **TicTacToe/Board** and **tictactoe/board** are equivalent.
-
-#### The name of the plugin
-
-The name of a given plugin is also known as the name
-of the API prefix that defines the plugin.
-
-The name of a plugin SHOULD be unique within a given afb-daemon instance.
-
-For example, when a client of afb-daemon calls a URI named **foo/bar**. Afb-daemon
-extracts the prefix **foo** and the suffix **bar**. **foo** must match a plugin name and **bar** a VERB attached to some method.
-
-#### Names of methods
-
-Each plugin exposes a set of methods that can be called
-by the clients of a given afb-daemon.
-
-VERB's name attached to a given plugin (API) MUST be unique within a plugin.
-
-Plugins static declaration link VERBS to corresponding methods.
-When clients emit requests on a given API/VERB corresponding method is called by afb-daemon.
-
-#### Initialisation function
-
-Plugin's initialisation function serves several purposes.
-
-1. It allows afb-daemon to control plugin version depending on initialisation function name.
-As today, the only supported initialisation function is **pluginAfbV1Register**. This identifies
-version "one" of plugins.
-
-2. It allows plugins to initialise itself.
-
-3. It enables names declarations: descriptions, requirements and implementations of exposed API/VERB.
-
-#### Functions instantiation of API/VERBs
-
-When an API/VERB is called, afb-daemon constructs a request object. Then it
-passes this request object to the implementation function corresponding to requested method, this
-within attached API plugin.
-
-An implementation function receives a request object that
-is used to: get arguments of the request, send
-answer, store session data.
-
-A plugin MUST set an answer to every received requests.
-
-Nevertheless it is not mandatory to set the answer
-before returning from API/VERB implementing function.
-This behaviour is important for asynchronous actions.
-
-API/VERB implementation that set an answer before returning are called *synchronous implementations*.
-Those that do not systematically set an answer before returning are called *asynchronous implementations*.
-
-Asynchronous implementations typically launch asynchronous actions. They record some context at
-request time and provide answer to the request only at completion of asynchronous actions.
-
-The Tic-Tac-Toe example
------------------------
-
-This part explains how to write an afb-plugin.
-For the sake of being practical it uses many
-examples based on tic-tac-toe.
-This plugin example is in *plugins/samples/tic-tac-toe.c*.
-
-This plugin is named ***tictactoe***.
-
-Dependencies when compiling
----------------------------
-
-Afb-daemon provides a configuration file for *pkg-config*.
-Typing the command
-
- pkg-config --cflags afb-daemon
-
-Print flags use for compilation:
-
- $ pkg-config --cflags afb-daemon
- -I/opt/local/include -I/usr/include/json-c
-
-For linking, you should use
-
- $ pkg-config --libs afb-daemon
- -ljson-c
-
-Afb-daemon automatically includes dependency to json-c.
-This is activated through **Requires** keyword in pkg-config.
-While almost every plugin replies on **json-c** this is not a must have dependency.
-
-Internally, afb-daemon relies on **libsystemd** for its event loop, as well
-as for its binding to D-Bus.
-Plugins developers are encouraged to leverage **libsystemd** when possible.
-Nevertheless there is no hard dependency to **libsystemd** if ever
-you rather not use it, feel free to do so.
-
-> Afb-daemon plugin are fully self contain. They do not enforce dependency on any libraries from the application framework.
-> Afb-daemon dependencies requirer to run AGL plugins are given at runtime through pointers leveraging read-only
-> memory feature.
-
-Header files to include
------------------------
-
-Plugin *tictactoe* has following includes:
-
-```C
-#define _GNU_SOURCE
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <string.h>
-#include <json-c/json.h>
-#include <afb/afb-plugin.h>
-```
-
-Header *afb/afb-plugin.h* is the only hard dependency, it includes all features
-that a plugin MUST HAVE. Outside of includes used to support application logic,
-common external headers used within plugins are:
-
-- *json-c/json.h*: should be include to handle json objects;
-- *systemd/sd-event.h*: should be include to access event main loop;
-- *systemd/sd-bus.h*: should be include for dbus connections.
-
-The *tictactoe* plugin does not leverage systemd features, also only json.h
-is used on top of mandatory afb/afb-plugin.h.
-
-When including *afb/afb-plugin.h*, the macro **_GNU_SOURCE** MUST be
-defined.
-
-Choosing names
---------------
-
-Designers of plugins should define a unique name for every API plugin
-as well as for methods VERBs. They should also define names for request
-arguments passed as name/value pair in URI.
-
-While forging names, designers should respect few rules to
-ensure that created names are valid and easy to use across platforms.
-
-All names and strings are UTF-8 encoded.
-
-### Names for API (plugin)
-
-Plugin API name are checked.
-All characters are authorised except:
-
-- the control characters (\u0000 .. \u001f)
-- the characters of the set { ' ', '"', '#', '%', '&',
- '\'', '/', '?', '`', '\x7f' }
-
-In other words the set of forbidden characters is
-{ \u0000..\u0020, \u0022, \u0023, \u0025..\u0027,
- \u002f, \u003f, \u0060, \u007f }.
-
-Afb-daemon makes no distinction between lower case
-and upper case when searching for API/VERB.
-
-### Names for methods
-
-The names of methods VERBs are totally free and not checked.
-
-However, the validity rules for method's VERB name are the
-same as for Plugin API name except that the dot(.) character
-is forbidden.
-
-Afb-daemon makes no case distinction when searching for an API by name.
-
-### Names for arguments
-
-Argument's name are not restricted and can be everything you wish.
-
-> Warning arguments search is case sensitive and "index" and "Index"
-> are not two different arguments.
-
-### Forging names widely available
-
-The key names of javascript object can be almost
-anything using the arrayed notation:
-
- object[key] = value
-
-Nevertheless this is not the case with javascript dot notation:
-
- object.key = value
-
-Using the dot notation, the key must be a valid javascript
-identifier and dash(-) as well as few other reserved characters cannot be used.
-
-For this reason, we advise developper to chose name compatible with both javascript and HTML notation.
-
-It is a good practice, even for arguments not to rely on case sensitivity.
-This may reduce headache strength at debug time, especially with interpreted language like
-javascript that may not warn you that a variable was not defined.
-
-Writing a synchronous method implementation
------------------------------------------
-
-The method **tictactoe/board** is a synchronous implementation.
-Here is its listing:
-
-```C
-/*
- * get the board
- */
-static void board(struct afb_req req)
-{
- struct board *board;
- struct json_object *description;
-
- /* retrieves the context for the session */
- board = board_of_req(req);
- INFO(afbitf, "method 'board' called for boardid %d", board->id);
-
- /* describe the board */
- description = describe(board);
-
- /* send the board's description */
- afb_req_success(req, description, NULL);
-}
-```
-
-This example shows many aspects of a synchronous
-method implementation. Let summarise it:
-
-1. The function **board_of_req** retrieves the context stored
-for the plugin: the board.
-
-2. The macro **INFO** sends a message of kind *INFO*
-to the logging system. The global variable named **afbitf**
-used represents the interface to afb-daemon.
-
-3. The function **describe** creates a json_object representing
-the board.
-
-4. The function **afb_req_success** sends the reply, attaching to
-it the object *description*.
-
-### The incoming request
-
-For any implementation, the request is received by a structure of type
-**struct afb_req**.
-
-> Note that this is a PLAIN structure, not a pointer to a structure.
-
-The definition of **struct afb_req** is:
-
-```C
-/*
- * Describes the request by plugins from afb-daemon
- */
-struct afb_req {
- const struct afb_req_itf *itf; /* the interfacing functions */
- void *closure; /* the closure for functions */
-};
-```
-
-It contains two pointers: first one *itf*, points to functions used
-to handle internal request. Second one *closure* point onto function closure.
-
-> The structure must never be used directly.
-> Instead developer should use the intended functions provided
-> by afb-daemon as described here after.
-
-*req* is used to get arguments of the request, to send
-answer, to store session data.
-
-This object and its interface is defined and documented
-in the file names *afb/afb-req-itf.h*
-
-The above example uses twice *req* object request.
-
-The first time, to retrieve the board attached to the session of the request.
-
-The second time, to send the reply: an object that describes the current board.
-
-### Associating a client context to a session
-
-When *tic-tac-toe* plugin receives a request, it musts get
-the board describing the game associated to the session.
-
-For a plugin, having data associated to a session is common.
-This data is called "plugin context" for the session.
-Within *tic-tac-toe* plugin the context is the board.
-
-Requests *afb_req* offer four functions for storing and retrieving session associated context.
-
-These functions are:
-
-- **afb_req_context_get**:
- retrieves context data stored for current plugin.
-
-- **afb_req_context_set**:
- store context data of current plugin.
-
-- **afb_req_context**:
- if exist retrieves context data of current plugin.
- if context does not yet exist, creates a new context and store it.
-
-- **afb_req_context_clear**:
- reset the stored context data.
-
-The plugin *tictactoe* use a convenient function to retrieve
-its context: the board. This function is *board_of_req*:
-
-```C
-/*
- * retrieves the board of the request
- */
-static inline struct board *board_of_req(struct afb_req req)
-{
- return afb_req_context(req, (void*)get_new_board, (void*)release_board);
-}
-```
-
-The function **afb_req_context** ensures an existing context
-for the session of the request.
-Its two last arguments are functions to allocate and free context.
-Note function type casts to avoid compilation warnings.
-
-Here is the definition of the function **afb_req_context**
-
-```C
-/*
- * Gets the pointer stored by the plugin for the session of 'req'.
- * If the stored pointer is NULL, indicating that no pointer was
- * already stored, afb_req_context creates a new context by calling
- * the function 'create_context' and stores it with the freeing function
- * 'free_context'.
- */
-static inline void *afb_req_context(struct afb_req req, void *(*create_context)(), void (*free_context)(void*))
-{
- void *result = afb_req_context_get(req);
- if (result == NULL) {
- result = create_context();
- afb_req_context_set(req, result, free_context);
- }
- return result;
-}
-```
-
-The second argument if the function that creates the context.
-For plugin *tic-tac-toe* (function **get_new_board**).
-The function **get_new_board** creates a new board and set usage its count to 1.
-The boards are checking usage count to free resources when not used.
-
-The third argument is a function that frees context resources.
-For plugin *tic-tac-toe* (function **release_board**).
-The function **release_board** decrease usage count of the board passed in argument.
-When usage count falls to zero, data board are freed.
-
-Definition of other functions dealing with contexts:
-
-```C
-/*
- * Gets the pointer stored by the plugin for the session of 'req'.
- * When the plugin has not yet recorded a pointer, NULL is returned.
- */
-void *afb_req_context_get(struct afb_req req);
-
-/*
- * Stores for the plugin the pointer 'context' to the session of 'req'.
- * The function 'free_context' will be called when the session is closed
- * or if plugin stores an other pointer.
- */
-void afb_req_context_set(struct afb_req req, void *context, void (*free_context)(void*));
-
-/*
- * Frees the pointer stored by the plugin for the session of 'req'
- * and sets it to NULL.
- *
- * Shortcut for: afb_req_context_set(req, NULL, NULL)
- */
-static inline void afb_req_context_clear(struct afb_req req)
-{
- afb_req_context_set(req, NULL, NULL);
-}
-```
-
-### Sending reply to a request
-
-Two kinds of replies: successful or failure.
-
-> Sending a reply to a request MUST be done once and only once.
-
-It exists two functions for "success" replies: **afb_req_success** and **afb_req_success_f**.
-
-```C
-/*
- * Sends a reply of kind success to the request 'req'.
- * The status of the reply is automatically set to "success".
- * Its send the object 'obj' (can be NULL) with an
- * informationnal comment 'info (can also be NULL).
- *
- * For conveniency, the function calls 'json_object_put' for 'obj'.
- * Thus, in the case where 'obj' should remain available after
- * the function returns, the function 'json_object_get' shall be used.
- */
-void afb_req_success(struct afb_req req, struct json_object *obj, const char *info);
-
-/*
- * Same as 'afb_req_success' but the 'info' is a formatting
- * string followed by arguments.
- *
- * For conveniency, the function calls 'json_object_put' for 'obj'.
- * Thus, in the case where 'obj' should remain available after
- * the function returns, the function 'json_object_get' shall be used.
- */
-void afb_req_success_f(struct afb_req req, struct json_object *obj, const char *info, ...);
-```
-
-It exists two functions for "failure" replies: **afb_req_fail** and **afb_req_fail_f**.
-
-```C
-/*
- * Sends a reply of kind failure to the request 'req'.
- * The status of the reply is set to 'status' and an
- * informational comment 'info' (can also be NULL) can be added.
- *
- * Note that calling afb_req_fail("success", info) is equivalent
- * to call afb_req_success(NULL, info). Thus even if possible it
- * is strongly recommended to NEVER use "success" for status.
- *
- * For conveniency, the function calls 'json_object_put' for 'obj'.
- * Thus, in the case where 'obj' should remain available after
- * the function returns, the function 'json_object_get' shall be used.
- */
-void afb_req_fail(struct afb_req req, const char *status, const char *info);
-
-/*
- * Same as 'afb_req_fail' but the 'info' is a formatting
- * string followed by arguments.
- *
- * For conveniency, the function calls 'json_object_put' for 'obj'.
- * Thus, in the case where 'obj' should remain available after
- * the function returns, the function 'json_object_get' shall be used.
- */
-void afb_req_fail_f(struct afb_req req, const char *status, const char *info, ...);
-```
-
-> For conveniency, these functions automatically call **json_object_put** to release **obj**.
-> Because **obj** usage count is null after being passed to a reply function, it SHOULD not be used anymore.
-> If exceptionally **obj** needs to remain usable after reply function then using **json_object_get** on **obj**
-> to increase usage count and cancels the effect the **json_object_put** is possible.
-
-Getting argument of invocation
-------------------------------
-
-Many methods expect arguments. Afb-daemon's plugins
-retrieve arguments by name and not by position.
-
-Arguments are passed by requests through either HTTP
-or WebSockets.
-
-For example, the method **join** of plugin **tic-tac-toe**
-expects one argument: the *boardid* to join. Here is an extract:
-
-```C
-/*
- * Join a board
- */
-static void join(struct afb_req req)
-{
- struct board *board, *new_board;
- const char *id;
-
- /* retrieves the context for the session */
- board = board_of_req(req);
- INFO(afbitf, "method 'join' called for boardid %d", board->id);
-
- /* retrieves the argument */
- id = afb_req_value(req, "boardid");
- if (id == NULL)
- goto bad_request;
- ...
-```
-
-The function **afb_req_value** searches in the request *req*
-for argument name passed in the second argument. When argument name
-is not passed, **afb_req_value** returns NULL.
-
-> The search is case sensitive and *boardid* is not equivalent to *BoardId*.
-> Nevertheless having argument names that only differ by name case is not a good idea.
-
-### Basic functions for querying arguments
-
-The function **afb_req_value** is defined here after:
-
-```C
-/*
- * Gets from the request 'req' the string value of the argument of 'name'.
- * Returns NULL if when there is no argument of 'name'.
- * Returns the value of the argument of 'name' otherwise.
- *
- * Shortcut for: afb_req_get(req, name).value
- */
-static inline const char *afb_req_value(struct afb_req req, const char *name)
-{
- return afb_req_get(req, name).value;
-}
-```
-
-It is defined as a shortcut to call the function **afb_req_get**.
-That function is defined here after:
-
-```C
-/*
- * Gets from the request 'req' the argument of 'name'.
- * Returns a PLAIN structure of type 'struct afb_arg'.
- * When the argument of 'name' is not found, all fields of result are set to NULL.
- * When the argument of 'name' is found, the fields are filled,
- * in particular, the field 'result.name' is set to 'name'.
- *
- * There is a special name value: the empty string.
- * The argument of name "" is defined only if the request was made using
- * an HTTP POST of Content-Type "application/json". In that case, the
- * argument of name "" receives the value of the body of the HTTP request.
- */
-struct afb_arg afb_req_get(struct afb_req req, const char *name);
-```
-
-That function takes 2 parameters: the request and the name
-of the argument to retrieve. It returns a PLAIN structure of
-type **struct afb_arg**.
-
-There is a special name that is defined when the request is
-of type HTTP/POST with a Content-Type being application/json.
-This name is **""** (the empty string). In that case, the value
-of this argument of empty name is the string received as a body
-of the post and is supposed to be a JSON string.
-
-The definition of **struct afb_arg** is:
-
-```C
-/*
- * Describes an argument (or parameter) of a request
- */
-struct afb_arg {
- const char *name; /* name of the argument or NULL if invalid */
- const char *value; /* string representation of the value of the argument */
- /* original filename of the argument if path != NULL */
- const char *path; /* if not NULL, path of the received file for the argument */
- /* when the request is finalized this file is removed */
-};
-```
-
-The structure returns the data arguments that are known for the
-request. This data include a field named **path**. This **path**
-can be accessed using the function **afb_req_path** defined here after:
-
-```C
-/*
- * Gets from the request 'req' the path for file attached to the argument of 'name'.
- * Returns NULL if when there is no argument of 'name' or when there is no file.
- * Returns the path of the argument of 'name' otherwise.
- *
- * Shortcut for: afb_req_get(req, name).path
- */
-static inline const char *afb_req_path(struct afb_req req, const char *name)
-{
- return afb_req_get(req, name).path;
-}
-```
-
-The path is only defined for HTTP/POST requests that send file.
-
-### Arguments for received files
-
-As it is explained above, clients can send files using HTTP/POST requests.
-
-Received files are attached to "file" argument name. For example, the
-following HTTP fragment (from test/sample-post.html)
-will send an HTTP/POST request to the method
-**post/upload-image** with 2 arguments named *file* and
-*hidden*.
-
-```html
-<h2>Sample Post File</h2>
-<form enctype="multipart/form-data">
- <input type="file" name="file" />
- <input type="hidden" name="hidden" value="bollobollo" />
- <br>
- <button formmethod="POST" formaction="api/post/upload-image">Post File</button>
-</form>
-```
-
-Argument named **file** should have both its value and path defined.
-
-The value is the name of the file as it was set by the HTTP client.
-Generally it is the filename on client side.
-
-The path is the effective path of saved file on the temporary local storage
-area of the application. This is a randomly generated and unique filename.
-It is not linked with the original filename as used on client side.
-
-After success the plugin can use the uploaded file directly from local storage path with no restriction:
-read, write, remove, copy, rename...
-Nevertheless when request reply is set and query terminated, the uploaded temporary file at
-path is destroyed.
-
-### Arguments as a JSON object
-
-Plugins may also request every arguments of a given call as one single object.
-This feature is provided by the function **afb_req_json** defined here after:
-
-```C
-/*
- * Gets from the request 'req' the json object hashing the arguments.
- * The returned object must not be released using 'json_object_put'.
- */
-struct json_object *afb_req_json(struct afb_req req);
-```
-
-It returns a json object. This object depends on how the request was built:
-
-- For HTTP requests, this json object uses key names mapped on argument name.
-Values are either string for common arguments or object ie: { "file": "...", "path": "..." }
-
-- For WebSockets requests, returned directly the object as provided by the client.
-
-> In fact, for Websockets requests, the function **afb_req_value**
-> can be seen as a shortcut to
-> ***json_object_get_string(json_object_object_get(afb_req_json(req), name))***
-
-Initialisation of the plugin and declaration of methods
------------------------------------------------------
-
-To be active, plugin's methods should be declared to
-afb-daemon. Furthermore, the plugin itself must be recorded.
-
-The registration mechanism is very basic: when afb-need starts,
-it loads all plugins listed in: command line or configuration file.
-
-Loading a plugin follows the following steps:
-
-1. Afb-daemon loads the plugin with *dlopen*.
-
-2. Afb-daemon searches for a symbol named **pluginAfbV1Register** using *dlsym*.
-This symbol is assumed to be the exported initialisation function of the plugin.
-
-3. Afb-daemon builds an interface object for the plugin.
-
-4. Afb-daemon calls the found function **pluginAfbV1Register** with interface pointer
-as parameter.
-
-5. Function **pluginAfbV1Register** setups the plugin and initialises it.
-
-6. Function **pluginAfbV1Register** returns the pointer to a structure
-describing the plugin: version, name (prefix or API name), and list of methods.
-
-7. Afb-daemon checks that the returned version and name can be managed.
-If so, plugin and its methods are register to become usable as soon as
-afb-daemon initialisation is finished.
-
-Here after the code used for **pluginAfbV1Register** from plugin *tic-tac-toe*:
-
-```C
-/*
- * activation function for registering the plugin called by afb-daemon
- */
-const struct AFB_plugin *pluginAfbV1Register(const struct AFB_interface *itf)
-{
- afbitf = itf; // records the interface for accessing afb-daemon
- return &plugin_description; // returns the description of the plugin
-}
-```
-
-It is a very minimal initialisation function because *tic-tac-toe* plugin doesn't
-have any application related initialisation step. It merely record daemon's interface
-and returns its description.
-
-The variable **afbitf** is a plugin global variable. It keeps the
-interface to afb-daemon that should be used for logging and pushing events.
-Here is its declaration:
-
-```C
-/*
- * the interface to afb-daemon
- */
-const struct AFB_interface *afbitf;
-```
-
-The description of the plugin is defined here after.
-
-```C
-/*
- * array of the methods exported to afb-daemon
- */
-static const struct AFB_method_desc_v1 plugin_methods[] = {
- /* VERB'S NAME SESSION MANAGEMENT FUNCTION TO CALL SHORT DESCRIPTION */
- { .name= "new", .session= AFB_SESSION_NONE, .callback= new, .info= "Starts a new game" },
- { .name= "play", .session= AFB_SESSION_NONE, .callback= play, .info= "Asks the server to play" },
- { .name= "move", .session= AFB_SESSION_NONE, .callback= move, .info= "Tells the client move" },
- { .name= "board", .session= AFB_SESSION_NONE, .callback= board, .info= "Get the current board" },
- { .name= "level", .session= AFB_SESSION_NONE, .callback= level, .info= "Set the server level" },
- { .name= "join", .session= AFB_SESSION_CHECK,.callback= join, .info= "Join a board" },
- { .name= "undo", .session= AFB_SESSION_NONE, .callback= undo, .info= "Undo the last move" },
- { .name= "wait", .session= AFB_SESSION_NONE, .callback= wait, .info= "Wait for a change" },
- { .name= NULL } /* marker for end of the array */
-};
-
-/*
- * description of the plugin for afb-daemon
- */
-static const struct AFB_plugin plugin_description =
-{
- /* description conforms to VERSION 1 */
- .type= AFB_PLUGIN_VERSION_1,
- .v1= { /* fills the v1 field of the union when AFB_PLUGIN_VERSION_1 */
- .prefix= "tictactoe", /* the API name (or plugin name or prefix) */
- .info= "Sample tac-tac-toe game", /* short description of of the plugin */
- .methods = plugin_methods /* the array describing the methods of the API */
- }
-};
-```
-
-The structure **plugin_description** describes the plugin.
-It declares the type and version of the plugin, its name, a short description
-and its methods list.
-
-The list of methods is an array of structures describing the methods and terminated by a NULL marker.
-
-In version one of afb-damon plugin, a method description contains 4 fields:
-
-- the name of the method,
-
-- the session management flags,
-
-- the implementation function to be call for the method,
-
-- a short description.
-
-The structure describing methods is defined as follows:
-
-```C
-/*
- * Description of one method of the API provided by the plugin
- * This enumeration is valid for plugins of type 1
- */
-struct AFB_method_desc_v1
-{
- const char *name; /* name of the method */
- enum AFB_session_v1 session; /* authorisation and session requirements of the method */
- void (*callback)(struct afb_req req); /* callback function implementing the method */
- const char *info; /* textual description of the method */
-};
-```
-
-For technical reasons, the enumeration **enum AFB_session_v1** is not exactly an
-enumeration but the wrapper of constant definitions that can be mixed using bitwise or
-(the C operator |).
-
-The constants that can bit mixed are:
-
-Constant name | Meaning
--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------
-**AFB_SESSION_CREATE** | Equals to AFB_SESSION_LOA_EQ_0|AFB_SESSION_RENEW
-**AFB_SESSION_CLOSE** | Closes the session after the reply and set the LOA to 0
-**AFB_SESSION_RENEW** | Refreshes the token of authentification
-**AFB_SESSION_CHECK** | Just requires the token authentification
-**AFB_SESSION_LOA_LE_0** | Requires the current LOA to be lesser then or equal to 0
-**AFB_SESSION_LOA_LE_1** | Requires the current LOA to be lesser then or equal to 1
-**AFB_SESSION_LOA_LE_2** | Requires the current LOA to be lesser then or equal to 2
-**AFB_SESSION_LOA_LE_3** | Requires the current LOA to be lesser then or equal to 3
-**AFB_SESSION_LOA_GE_0** | Requires the current LOA to be greater then or equal to 0
-**AFB_SESSION_LOA_GE_1** | Requires the current LOA to be greater then or equal to 1
-**AFB_SESSION_LOA_GE_2** | Requires the current LOA to be greater then or equal to 2
-**AFB_SESSION_LOA_GE_3** | Requires the current LOA to be greater then or equal to 3
-**AFB_SESSION_LOA_EQ_0** | Requires the current LOA to be equal to 0
-**AFB_SESSION_LOA_EQ_1** | Requires the current LOA to be equal to 1
-**AFB_SESSION_LOA_EQ_2** | Requires the current LOA to be equal to 2
-**AFB_SESSION_LOA_EQ_3** | Requires the current LOA to be equal to 3
-
-If any of this flag is set, afb-daemon requires an authentication token
-as if **AFB_SESSION_CHECK** flag was also set.
-
-The special value **AFB_SESSION_NONE** is zero and can be used to bypass token check.
-
-> Note that **AFB_SESSION_CREATE** and **AFB_SESSION_CLOSE** might be removed in later versions.
-
-Sending messages to the log system
-----------------------------------
-
-Afb-daemon provides 4 levels of verbosity and 5 methods for logging messages.
-
-The verbosity is managed. Options allow the change the verbosity of afb-daemon
-and the verbosity of the plugins can be set plugin by plugin.
-
-The methods for logging messages are defined as macros that test the
-verbosity level and that call the real logging function only if the
-message must be output. This avoid evaluation of arguments of the
-formatting messages if the message must not be output.
-
-### Verbs for logging messages
-
-The 5 logging methods are:
-
-Macro | Verbosity | Meaning | syslog level
---------|:---------:|-----------------------------------|:-----------:
-ERROR | 0 | Error conditions | 3
-WARNING | 1 | Warning conditions | 4
-NOTICE | 1 | Normal but significant condition | 5
-INFO | 2 | Informational | 6
-DEBUG | 3 | Debug-level messages | 7
-
-You can note that the 2 methods **WARNING** and **INFO** have the same level
-of verbosity. But they don't have the same *syslog level*. It means that
-they are output with a different level on the logging system.
-
-All of these methods have the same signature:
-
-```C
-void ERROR(const struct AFB_interface *afbitf, const char *message, ...);
-```
-
-The first argument **afbitf** is the interface to afb daemon that the
-plugin received at initialisation time when **pluginAfbV1Register** is called.
-
-The second argument **message** is a formatting string compatible with printf/sprintf.
-
-The remaining arguments are arguments of the formating message like with printf.
-
-### Managing verbosity
-
-Depending on the level of verbosity, the messages are output or not.
-The following table explains what messages will be output depending
-ont the verbosity level.
-
-Level of verbosity | Outputed macro
-:-----------------:|--------------------------
-0 | ERROR
-1 | ERROR + WARNING + NOTICE
-2 | ERROR + WARNING + NOTICE + INFO
-3 | ERROR + WARNING + NOTICE + INFO + DEBUG
-
-### Output format and destination
-
-The syslog level is used for forging a prefix to the message.
-The prefixes are:
-
-syslog level | prefix
-:-----------:|---------------
-0 | <0> EMERGENCY
-1 | <1> ALERT
-2 | <2> CRITICAL
-3 | <3> ERROR
-4 | <4> WARNING
-5 | <5> NOTICE
-6 | <6> INFO
-7 | <7> DEBUG
-
-
-The message is pushed to standard error.
-The final destination of the message depends on how systemd service
-was configured through its variable **StandardError**. It can be
-journal, syslog or kmsg. (See man sd-daemon).
-
-Sending events
---------------
-
-Since version 0.5, plugins can broadcast events to any potential listener.
-As today only unattended even are supported. Targeted events are expected for next
-coming version.
-
-The plugin *tic-tac-toe* broadcasts events when the board changes.
-This is done in the function **changed**:
-
-```C
-/*
- * signals a change of the board
- */
-static void changed(struct board *board, const char *reason)
-{
- ...
- struct json_object *description;
-
- /* get the description */
- description = describe(board);
-
- ...
-
- afb_daemon_broadcast_event(afbitf->daemon, reason, description);
-}
-```
-
-The description of the changed board is pushed via the daemon interface.
-
-Within plugin *tic-tac-toe*, *reason* indicates the origin of
-the change. In function **afb_daemon_broadcast_event** the second
-parameter is the name of broadcasted event. The third argument is the
-object that is transmitted with the event.
-
-Function **afb_daemon_broadcast_event** is defined here after:
-
-```C
-/*
- * Broadcasts widely the event of 'name' with the data 'object'.
- * 'object' can be NULL.
- * 'daemon' MUST be the daemon given in interface when activating the plugin.
- *
- * For conveniency, the function calls 'json_object_put' for 'object'.
- * Thus, in the case where 'object' should remain available after
- * the function returns, the function 'json_object_get' shall be used.
- */
-void afb_daemon_broadcast_event(struct afb_daemon daemon, const char *name, struct json_object *object);
-```
-
-> Be aware, as with reply functions **object** is automatically released using
-> **json_object_put** when using this function. Call **json_object_get** before
-> calling **afb_daemon_broadcast_event** to keep **object** available
-> after function returns.
-
-Event name received by listeners is prefixed with plugin name.
-So when a change occurs after a move, the reason is **move** and every clients
-receive an event **tictactoe/move**.
-
-> Note that nothing is said about case sensitivity of event names.
-> However, the event is always prefixed with the name that the plugin
-> declared, with the same case, followed with a slash /.
-> Thus it is safe to compare event using a case sensitive comparison.
-
-
-
-Writing an asynchronous method implementation
--------------------------------------------
-
-The *tic-tac-toe* example allows two clients or more to share the same board.
-This is implemented by the method **join** that illustrated partly how to
-retrieve arguments.
-
-When two or more clients are sharing a same board, one of them can wait
-until the state of the board changes, but this could also be implemented using
-events because an even is generated each time the board changes.
-
-In this case, the reply to the wait is sent only when the board changes.
-See the diagram below:
-
- CLIENT A CLIENT B TIC-TAC-TOE
- | | |
- +--------------|----------------->| wait . . . . . . . .
- | | | .
- : : : .
- : : : .
- | | | .
- | +----------------->| move . . . .
- | | | V .
- | |<-----------------+ success of move .
- | | | .
- |<-------------|------------------+ success of wait <
-
-Here, this is an invocation of the plugin by an other client that
-unblock the suspended *wait* call.
-Nevertheless in most case this should be a timer, a hardware event, a sync with
-a concurrent process or thread, ...
-
-Common case of an asynchronous implementation.
-
-Here is the listing of the function **wait**:
-
-```C
-static void wait(struct afb_req req)
-{
- struct board *board;
- struct waiter *waiter;
-
- /* retrieves the context for the session */
- board = board_of_req(req);
- INFO(afbitf, "method 'wait' called for boardid %d", board->id);
-
- /* creates the waiter and enqueues it */
- waiter = calloc(1, sizeof *waiter);
- waiter->req = req;
- waiter->next = board->waiters;
- afb_req_addref(req);
- board->waiters = waiter;
-}
-```
-
-After retrieving the board, the function adds a new waiter to
-waiters list and returns without setting a reply.
-
-Before returning, it increases **req** request's reference count using **afb_req_addref** function.
-
-> When a method returns without setting a reply,
-> it **MUST** increment request's reference count
-> using **afb_req_addref**. If unpredictable behaviour may pop up.
-
-Later, when a board changes, it calls *tic-tac-toe* **changed** function
-with reason of change in parameter.
-
-Here is the full listing of the function **changed**:
-
-```C
-/*
- * signals a change of the board
- */
-static void changed(struct board *board, const char *reason)
-{
- struct waiter *waiter, *next;
- struct json_object *description;
-
- /* get the description */
- description = describe(board);
-
- waiter = board->waiters;
- board->waiters = NULL;
- while (waiter != NULL) {
- next = waiter->next;
- afb_req_success(waiter->req, json_object_get(description), reason);
- afb_req_unref(waiter->req);
- free(waiter);
- waiter = next;
- }
-
- afb_event_sender_push(afb_daemon_get_event_sender(afbitf->daemon), reason, description);
-}
-```
-
-The list of waiters is walked and a reply is sent to each waiter.
-After sending the reply, the reference count of the request
-is decremented using **afb_req_unref** to allow resources to be freed.
-
-> The reference count **MUST** be decremented using **afb_req_unref** to free
-> resources and avoid memory leaks.
-> This usage count decrement should happen **AFTER** setting reply or
-> bad things may happen.
-
-How to build a plugin
----------------------
-
-Afb-daemon provides a *pkg-config* configuration file that can be
-queried by providing **afb-daemon** in command line arguments.
-This configuration file provides data that should be used
-for plugins compilation. Examples:
-
-```bash
-$ pkg-config --cflags afb-daemon
-$ pkg-config --libs afb-daemon
-```
-
-### Example for cmake meta build system
-
-This example is the extract for building the plugin *afm-main* using *CMAKE*.
-
-```cmake
-pkg_check_modules(afb afb-daemon)
-if(afb_FOUND)
- message(STATUS "Creation afm-main-plugin for AFB-DAEMON")
- add_library(afm-main-plugin MODULE afm-main-plugin.c)
- target_compile_options(afm-main-plugin PRIVATE ${afb_CFLAGS})
- target_include_directories(afm-main-plugin PRIVATE ${afb_INCLUDE_DIRS})
- target_link_libraries(afm-main-plugin utils ${afb_LIBRARIES})
- set_target_properties(afm-main-plugin PROPERTIES
- PREFIX ""
- LINK_FLAGS "-Wl,--version-script=${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/afm-main-plugin.export-map"
- )
- install(TARGETS afm-main-plugin LIBRARY DESTINATION ${plugin_dir})
-else()
- message(STATUS "Not creating the plugin for AFB-DAEMON")
-endif()
-```
-
-Let now describe some of these lines.
-
-```cmake
-pkg_check_modules(afb afb-daemon)
-```
-
-This first lines searches to the *pkg-config* configuration file for
-**afb-daemon**. Resulting data are stored in the following variables:
-
-Variable | Meaning
-------------------|------------------------------------------------
-afb_FOUND | Set to 1 if afb-daemon plugin development files exist
-afb_LIBRARIES | Only the libraries (w/o the '-l') for compiling afb-daemon plugins
-afb_LIBRARY_DIRS | The paths of the libraries (w/o the '-L') for compiling afb-daemon plugins
-afb_LDFLAGS | All required linker flags for compiling afb-daemon plugins
-afb_INCLUDE_DIRS | The '-I' preprocessor flags (w/o the '-I') for compiling afb-daemon plugins
-afb_CFLAGS | All required cflags for compiling afb-daemon plugins
-
-If development files are found, the plugin can be added to the set of
-target to build.
-
-```cmake
-add_library(afm-main-plugin MODULE afm-main-plugin.c)
-```
-
-This line asks to create a shared library having a single
-source file named afm-main-plugin.c to be compiled.
-The default name of the created shared object is
-**libafm-main-plugin.so**.
-
-```cmake
-set_target_properties(afm-main-plugin PROPERTIES
- PREFIX ""
- LINK_FLAGS "-Wl,--version-script=${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/afm-main-plugin.export-map"
-)
-```
-
-This lines are doing two things:
-
-1. It renames the built library from **libafm-main-plugin.so** to **afm-main-plugin.so**
-by removing the implicitly added prefix *lib*. This step is not mandatory
-because afb-daemon doesn't check names of files at load time.
-The only filename convention used by afb-daemon relates to **.so** termination.
-*.so pattern is used when afb-daemon automatically discovers plugin from a directory hierarchy.
-
-2. It applies a version script at link time to only export the reserved name
-**pluginAfbV1Register** for registration entry point. By default, when building
-a shared library linker exports all the public symbols (C functions that are not **static**).
-
-Next line are:
-
-```cmake
-target_include_directories(afm-main-plugin PRIVATE ${afb_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-target_link_libraries(afm-main-plugin utils ${afb_LIBRARIES})
-```
-
-As you can see it uses the variables computed by ***pkg_check_modules(afb afb-daemon)***
-to configure the compiler and the linker.
-
-### Exporting the function pluginAfbV1Register
-
-The function **pluginAfbV1Register** MUST be exported. This can be achieved
-using a version script at link time. Here after is a version script used for
-*tic-tac-toe* (plugins/samples/export.map).
-
- { global: pluginAfbV1Register; local: *; };
-
-This sample [version script](https://sourceware.org/binutils/docs-2.26/ld/VERSION.html#VERSION)
-exports as global the symbol *pluginAfbV1Register* and hides any
-other symbols.
-
-This version script is added to the link options using the
-option **--version-script=export.map** is given directly to the
-linker or using the option **-Wl,--version-script=export.map**
-when the option is given to the C compiler.
-
-### Building within yocto
-
-Adding a dependency to afb-daemon is enough. See below:
-
- DEPENDS += " afb-daemon "
-