Working with the CloudBridge Event System

In order to provide more comprehensive logging and standardize CloudBridge functions, we have adopted a middleware layer to handle event calls. In short, each event has a corresponding list of dispatchers called in priority order. For the time being, only a listening subscription model is implemented, thus each event has a series of subscribed methods accepting the same parameters, that get run in priority order along with the main function call. This Event System allows both developers and users to easily add intermediary functions by event name, without having to modify the pre-existing code, thus improving the library’s flexibility.

Event Handler

Each function attached to an event has a corresponding handler. This handler has a type, a callback function, and a link to the next handler. When invoked, the handler will call its callback function and, when available, invoke the next handler in the linked list of handlers.

Handler Types

Each Event Handler has a type, which determines how it’s invoked. There are currently two supported types: SUBSCRIPTION, and RESULT_SUBSCRIPTION. Handlers of SUBSCRIPTION type are simple listeners, who intercept the main function arguments but do not modify them. They are independent of any previous or future handler, and have no return value. Their associated callback function expects the exact same parameters as the main function. Handlers of RESULT_SUBSCRIPTION type are similar to SUBSCRIPTION handlers, but have access to the last non-null return value from any previous handler. They are similarly listeners, intercepting arguments without modifying them and do not return any value. Their associated callback will however be called with an additional keyword parameter named callback_result holding the last non-null return value from any previous handler. The callback function thus needs to accept such a parameter.

Event Dispatcher

A single event dispatcher is initialized with the provider, and will hold the entirety of the handlers for all events. This dispatcher handles new subscriptions and event calls. When an event is called, the dispatcher will link each handler to the next one in line, then invoke the first handler, thus triggering the chain of handlers.

Priorities

As previously mentioned, dispatchers will be invoked in order of priority. These priorities are assigned at subscription time, and must be unique. Below are the default priorities used across events:

Handler

Priority

Pre-Logger

2000

Main Function Call

2500

Post-Logger

3000

The Pre- and Post- loggers represent universal loggers respectively keeping track of the event called and its parameters before the call, and the returned value after the call. The main function call represents the core function, which is not subscribed permanently, but rather called directly with the event.

User Example

From a user’s perspective, the Event System is invisible unless the user wishes to extend the chain of handlers with their own code:

from cloudbridge.factory import CloudProviderFactory, ProviderList

provider = CloudProviderFactory().create_provider(ProviderList.FIRST, {})
id = 'thisIsAnID'
obj = provider.storage.buckets.get(id)

However, if they wish to add their own logging interface, for example, they can do so without modifying CloudBridge code:

from cloudbridge.factory import CloudProviderFactory, ProviderList

provider = CloudProviderFactory().create_provider(ProviderList.AZURE, {})

## I don't want to setup a logger, just want to print some messages for
## debugging
def print_id(obj_id):
    print("I am getting this id: " + obj_id)

provider.storage.buckets.subscribe("get", priority=1500, callback=print_id)

id1 = 'thisIsAnID'
id2 = 'thisIsAnID2'

## The subscribed print function will get called every time the get
## method is invoked
obj1 = provider.storage.buckets.get(id1)
## I am getting this id: thisIsAnID
obj2 = provider.storage.buckets.get(id2)
## I am getting this id: thisIsAnID2

Developer Example

Below is an example of the way in which the Event System works for a simple getter, from the CloudBridge developer perspective.

## Provider Specific code
class MyFirstProviderService(BaseService):

    def __init__(self, provider):
        super(MyFirstProviderService, self).__init__(provider)

    def get(self, obj_id):
        # do the getting
        resource = ...
        return MyFirstProviderResource(resource)

class MySecondProviderService(BaseService):

    def __init__(self, provider):
        super(MySecondProviderService, self).__init__(provider)

    def get(self, obj_id):
        # do the getting
        resource = ...
        return MySecondProviderResource(resource)

## Base code
class BaseService(ProviderService):
    def __init__(self, provider):
        super(Service, self).__init__(provider)
        # Example: provider.storage.buckets for buckets
        self._service_event_name = "provider.service.servicename"

    def _init_get(self):

        def _get_pre_log(obj_id):
            log.debug("Getting {} object with the id: {}".format(
                self.provider.name, bucket_id))

        def _get_post_log(callback_result, obj_id):
            log.debug("Returned object: {}".format(callback_result))

        self.subscribe("get", 2000, _get_pre_log)
        self.subscribe("get", 3000, _get_post_log,
                             result_callback=True)

        self.mark_initialized("get")

    # Public get function
    def get(self, obj_id):
        """
        Returns an object given its ID. Returns ``None`` if the object
        does not exist.
        """
        if not self.check_initialized("get"):
            self._init_get()
        return self.call("get", priority=2500,
                               main_call=self._get,
                               obj_id=obj_id)

Thus, adding a new provider only requires adding the Service class with a protected class accepting the same parameters, and the logging and public method signature will remain the same, as the code will not be re-written for each provider. Additionally, if a developer needs to add additional logging for a particular service, beyond the default logging for all services, they can do so in the event initialisation function, and it will be applied to all providers. For example:

## Base code
class BaseService(ProviderService):
    def __init__(self, provider):
        super(Service, self).__init__(provider)
        self._service_event_name = "provider.service"

    def _init_get(self):

        def _get_pre_log(obj_id):
            log.debug("Getting {} object with the id: {}".format(
                self.provider.name, bucket_id))

        def _get_post_log(callback_result, obj_id):
            log.debug("Returned object: {}".format(callback_result))

        def _special_none_log(callback_result, obj_id):
            if not callback_result:
                log.debug("There is no object with id '{}'".format(obj_id))

        self.subscribe("get", 2000, _get_pre_log)
        self.subscribe("get", 3000, _get_post_log,
                             result_callback=True)
        self.subscribe("get", 2750, _special_none_log,
                             result_callback=True)

        self.mark_initialized("get")

   # Public get function
    def get(self, obj_id):
        """
        Returns an object given its ID. Returns ``None`` if the object
        does not exist.
        """
        if not self.check_initialized("get"):
            self._init_get()
        return self.call("get", priority=2500,
                               main_call=self._get,
                               obj_id=obj_id)