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What a Software Architect Needs

to Know When Using the Actor
Framework
David Staab, CLA
Staab Engineering
Stobber on LAVA

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Dave Snyder, CLA

Endeavor Engineering
Daklu on LAVA

Two-Part Session

Part 1: Principles of Actor Oriented Design

Learn how to think about actors

Learn how to apply the actor model in general LabVIEW code

Part 2: Making the Actor Framework work for you

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Learn how to customize framework to achieve common design

goals
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Part I
Fundamentals of Actor-Oriented Design (AOD)
Actor Model Theory

What is the Actor Model?

Three elements of the model
Principles that apply to all Actors
Actor system topologies

Applying AOD in LabVIEW

Mapping model elements to code
Tips when implementing Actors

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Actor Model Theory

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Actor Theory

What is the Actor Model?

The Actor model in computer science is a
mathematical model of concurrent computation
that treats actors as the universal primitives of
concurrent digital computation.
Wikipedia

Translation: Its a way of thinking about and

understanding concurrency.

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Actor Theory

Elements of the Actor Model

An encapsulation of data,
procedures, and threads

Actor

Msg

Actor

Message
Any information passing
between actors

Addr

Address
A label indicating message
destination

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Actor Theory

Actor Principle #1

Actors can receive any message at any time

An actor has no control over

who has its address

Each actor sends msgs on

its own schedule

A1
A1

A2

A1
A1

Actors must react to unexpected

messages gracefully
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!!

A3

A4

Actor Theory

Actor Principle #2
Actors are self-deterministic
Ways to think about it
The actor is responsible for itself
Messages are always requests, never commands
Things are not done to an actor; an actor does things
to itself
If a turkey were an actor, come Thanksgiving we
would ask it to chop off its own head.
Carl Hewitt (paraphrased)

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Actor Theory

Actor System Topologies: Starter Options

Direct

Hierarchical

A1
A2
Advantages(?):
Easy to implement
Doesnt require much
A4
A3
planning
Feels very efficient

A1
Advantages:
Promotes encapsulation
A3
A2
Easier to reason about
the behavior
Better scalability
A4
A5

A5

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Actor Theory

Summary

Actors encapsulate data, procedures, and

threads

Actors cannot predict the next message

Actor Design != Actor System Design

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Applying AOD to LabVIEW

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AOD in LV

Implementing Messages: Options

Command
Pattern

Name/Data

Msg
Do.vi

MyMsg
Do.vi

Commonly implemented as
clusters
Msgs are stringly typed
Message and msg handling
code are separate

Requires classes to
implement
Msgs are strongly typed
Message contains msg
handling code

Each option has natural strengths.

Neither option has insurmountable technical limitations.
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AOD in LV

Implementing Addresses

Addresses = Message Transport

(Queue, User Events, etc.)

but Dave
An address defines a location. Transports move
messages around. Theyre not the same.

The Actor Model is a model

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AOD in LV

Implementing Actors
Actor Brain = Message Handling Loop (MHL)

DQ Msg

= QMH?

Names convey information about how

the thing is used. Actor != QMH

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AOD in LV > Actors

Sidebar: Comparing Common QMH and Actor

Common QMH

Actor

Dumb parallel process

Smart parallel process

Focus on sequencing
procedures

Focus on accomplishing
tasks

Puts responsibility on msg

sender (developer)

Takes responsibility for itself

Often thread unsafe

Thread safe

Scales poorly

Scales well

Encourages writing code

quickly

Encourages writing code

robustly

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AOD in LV > Actors > MHL

Tip #1

Each MHL is a new actor

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Behaviors define actor, not artifacts (VI, lvlib, etc.)

Multiple MHL on one block diagram is fine
MHL is the actors public interface
Usually maintains all actor state data

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AOD in LV > Actors > MHL Tip 1

UI Block Diagram

Four Actors

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AOD in LV > Actors > MHL

Tip #2

Each actor entails

development overhead
All actors need

Exit conditions
Error handling

Implement these features FIRST

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AOD in LV > Actors > MHL Tip 2

Actor Development Overhead

My MHL Template

DQ Msg

Create
Queue
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Destroy Queue

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AOD in LV > Actors > MHL

Tip #3

Not All Loops Are Actors

Some processes are not conducive to MHL

Delegate to Helper Loops

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E.g. Continuous processes, periodic processes

No message handler
Limited self-determinism
Does one task well
Not a shared resource

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AOD in LV > Actors > MHL Tip 3

Helper Loop Metronome

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AOD in LV > Actors > MHL

Tip #4

Actors work best when the

MHL has to wait

Msg processing time << Time between msgs

MHL should handle every message instantly

Dont use it as a job queue

Priority messages are unnecessary

Manipulating the message transport

is a Code Smell
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AOD in LV > Actors > MHL Tip 4

Helper Loop Job Processor

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AOD in LV > Actors

Message Handling Loop Tips

Each MHL is a new actor

Each actor entails development overhead
Not all loops are actors Helper Loops
Actors work best when the MHL has to wait
If the MHL is the actors brain, helper loops and
sub actors are the arms and legs doing the
heavy lifting.

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If nothing else, remember this

AOD requires changing how you think

Its not the same as QMH/QSM thinking

Dont try to do too much in your MHL

Delegate to sub actors and helper loops

Actors can receive any message at any time

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Make sure you implement them that way

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Part II
Making the Actor Framework Work for You
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

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Actor Framework review

How to communicate with actors
How to implement state
How to handle or report errors
How to stop actors
How to debug actors
How to deploy actors

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Actor Framework Review

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Actor Framework Review

Actor Framework Features

Uses Inversion of Control (IOC) to guarantee safe

execution

Several features for advanced applications

Priority Queues for inter-actor communication

o

Actors address is its queue refnum

MHL provided by the framework

Actors are launched dynamically
Actors are multi-instanced
Default error handling scheme

All these features come with the framework; cannot

smorgasbord!

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Actor Framework Review

Messaging Actors

MHL uses the Command Pattern; messages are objects

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All messages inherit from

AF:Message.lvclass

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Actor Framework Review

Common Actor Life Cycle (part 1)

= Framework component
= Optional override

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Actor Framework Review

Common Actor Life Cycle (part 2)

= Framework component
= Optional override

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How to Communicate with Actors

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How to Communicate with Actors

VI Call Hierarchy

Senders are Coupled to Receivers

No way to completely decouple

actors in AF

Msg class library always links them

in at least one direction.
Actor 1.Method A.vi

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How to Communicate with Actors

Loosen Coupling via Actor Hierarchy

Design Msg:Do.vi to work on abstract actor type

If message has no payload, could be Actor.lvclass

If message has payload, need abstract actor with method

Allows sender to choose its receiver

Msg:Do.vi

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How to Communicate with Actors

Loosen Coupling via Message Hierarchy

Abstract data (payload)

Concrete method (action)

Can change message on

receivers interface at runtime

Allows receiver to choose

message

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How to Communicate with Actors

Messaging Outside the Framework

Frameworks tend to be viral in a design

AF actors send messages to callers via priority queue.
Msg:Send.vi

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AF actors want their callers to be AF actors.

Non-AF caller of an AF actor must either ignore messages or

implement its own MHL for the priority queue.
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How to Communicate with Actors

Minimal MHL for non-AF caller

MyCallerMHL.vi

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How to Communicate with Actors

Calling Actor Methods Synchronously

Reply Msg.lvclass allows synchronous code to call

actors (command/response)

Timeout condition only tells whether actor processed msg

Condition

Indication

Error
~Error &&

Msg not sent

Timeout

~Error && ~Timeout

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Msg not executed or failed

??? (Executed? Cached? Ignored?)

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How to Communicate with Actors

Enhanced Reply Msg

MyReplyMessage:Do Core.vi

Example:
Add ACK
to Reply
MyActor:Shut Down.vi

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How to Communicate with Actors

Enhanced Reply Msg Benefits

Add ACK output from Reply Msgs to report whether

message executed.
Condition

Indication

Error
~Error &&

Msg not sent

Timeout

~Error && ~Timeout &&

Msg not executed or failed

ACK

Msg executed normally

~Error && ~Timeout && ~ACK

Msg ignored or cached

ACK also reports whether other data in Reply output is

valid.
Condition

Indication

~ACK

Reply value invalid

ACK
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Reply value valid

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How to Implement State

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How to Implement State

Working with Shared Reentrancy

All AF actors are launched dynamically using ACBR node

LV uses a pool of clones for shared reentrant VIs

Msg:Do.vi is shared reentrant So are your actor methods

No certainty in which clone will be used on each call

Must avoid storing state in a shared reentrant method.

Cannot use these elements:

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Uninitialized shift registers

Feedback nodes
UI code that assumes Front Panel will be in default state
<vi.lib> functions that cache state

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How to Implement State

Store Actor State in Object Parameters

Object wire is stored in MHLs shift register

Every message method has access to wire

state data
non-state data

Recommend using clusters to organize complex object

data

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How to Implement State

Remove State from SubVIs

<vi.lib> Peak Detector.vi

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How to Implement State

Remove State from SubVIs

Stateless Peak Detector.vi

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How to Implement State

Remove State from SubVIs

MyActor:Find Peaks.vi

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How to Handle or Report Errors

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How to Handle or Report Errors

Default Framework Behavior

All message errors are handled by the framework.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Message method generates error

Handle Error.vi always stops the actor (by default)
Last Ack Msg is sent to caller (not shown)
Caller reads error from LA Msg and throws it to itself
o

GOTO 1
AF:Actor:Actor Core.vi

AF:Actor:Handle Last Ack Core.vi

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How to Handle or Report Errors

Customizing Error Handling

Define non-default behaviors by overriding framework VIs:

Handle Error.vi

Handle Last Ack Core.vi

Report errors to a central handler or logger

Clear locally-scoped errors
Do not insert callees error into own error path
Re-launch callee to attempt graceful error recovery

Make this default for your actors with an override class

e.g. MyActor.lvclass AF_Overrides.lvclass Actor.lvclass

This does not handle errors in helper loops!

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How to Stop Actors

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How to Stop Actors

How the Framework Stops an Actor

AF:Stop Msg:Do.vi

Stop Msg.lvclass:Do.vi inserts

an error into the MHL

1.

Handle Error.vi stops the actor

and clears error 43

2.

Error 43 never reported by actor

to its caller

Error 43 is a standard code used by <vi.lib> functions

43: Normal Stop

1608: Emergency Stop

Operation canceled by user

e.g. Open/Create/Replace File.vi: If user cancels a File Browse
operation, actor will stop without error.

Error 1608 is not cleared: all actors in call chain will stop

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How to Stop Actors

Default Stopping Handshake

Framework defines a handshake for stopping an actor

Common design sends Stop Msg to callees in Stop

Core.vi

Caller sends Stop Msg, actor stops asynchronously

Actor sends Last Ack Msg to caller after it stops

Stop Core executes after MHL breaks

Caller cannot listen for Last Ack Msg from stopped callees
If Last Ack Msg carries an error, caller will not pass error up the
call chain!

Better design avoids stopping caller until Last Ack Msgs

arrive from all callees.

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How to Stop Actors

Improved Stop Handshake

MyActor:Handle Error.vi

MyActor:Handle Last Ack Core.vi

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How to Debug Actors

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How to Debug Actors

The Framework Makes Debugging Harder

Many debugging challenges caused by two facts:

1.

Breakpoints do not work normally on VI clones

2.

3.

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AF dynamically launches every actor.

AC.vi and Msg:Do.vi are shared reentrant

Saved breakpoints cant be disabled on clones

Breakpoints set on a clone at run-time dont work

Probes set on a reentrant VIs wire (prior to run) dont

show clone data (while running)
Execution highlighting and probes cause bugs and
crashes when used on reentrant VIs in LVRT.
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How to Debug Actors

Debugging Workarounds
1.

If actor has no helper loop, develop and test class

without launching it. When tests pass, launch using AF.

2.

Wire True to Show Front Panel input on Launch

Actor.vi

3.

Inspect clone using Highlight Execution and probes

Cant be used on AC.vis inserted into a subpanel

Use NI Desktop Execution Trace Toolkit v2013

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Can test as a multi-instance class by splitting the wire

Infeasible if class sends AF messages inside its methods

Generate events when actors initialize, start execution, handle an

error, receive a Last Ack Msg, receive a Stop Msg, etc.
Add these traces to your framework override
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How to Deploy Actors

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How to Deploy Actors

Deploying Applications and Compiled Libraries

AF actors are launched dynamically, so an application

needs a launcher VI.

If app uses AF actors for the UI, normally want to close

the launcher when UI finishes initialization.

Might include extra features like error reporting/logging,

controlled shutdown, RPC or CLI, etc.

Make the launcher a Splash Screen

AC.vi is called by ACBR node, so app builder might strip

its front panel from the build.

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AF requires all AC.vi front panels to execute.

Access a front panel property or value to prevent this.
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How to Deploy Actors

Deploying Applications and Compiled Libraries

AF does not work natively with LVLIBP (Packed Project

Libraries)

Must modify the framework

v4.0 can be modified to work, but not v4.1 (shipping with LV)

See NI Community for details:

https://decibel.ni.com/content/message/49089#49089

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Thanks!

Dave Snyder
dave@meksys.com
David Staab
david@staabengineering.com

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