diff --git a/modules/angular2/docs/web_workers/web_workers.md b/modules/angular2/docs/web_workers/web_workers.md index 82acf99a41..24d3fc04d5 100644 --- a/modules/angular2/docs/web_workers/web_workers.md +++ b/modules/angular2/docs/web_workers/web_workers.md @@ -11,15 +11,15 @@ server, etc.. ## Introduction WebWorker support in Angular2 is designed to make it easy to leverage parallelization in your web application. -When you choose to run your application in a WebWorker angular runs both your application's logic and the -majority of the core angular framework in a WebWorker. +When you choose to run your application in a WebWorker angular runs both your application's logic and the +majority of the core angular framework in a WebWorker. By offloading as much code as possible to the WebWorker we keep the UI thread free to handle events, manipulate the DOM, and run animations. This provides a better framerate and UX for applications. ## Bootstrapping a WebWorker Application -Bootstrapping a WebWorker application is not much different than bootstrapping a normal application. -The primary difference is that you don't pass your root component directly to ```bootstrap```. +Bootstrapping a WebWorker application is not much different than bootstrapping a normal application. +The primary difference is that you don't pass your root component directly to ```bootstrap```. Instead you pass the name of a background script that calls ```bootstrapWebWorker``` with your root component. ### Example @@ -75,11 +75,11 @@ run specifically on the UI or Worker. Additionally, they contain the core messag communicate between the Worker and the UI. This messaging code is not in the standard angular2.js file. * We pass `loader.js` to bootstrap and not `app.ts`. You can think of `loader.js` as the `index.html` of the Worker. Since WebWorkers share no memory with the UI we need to reload the angular2 dependencies before -bootstrapping our application. We do this with importScripts. Additionally, we need to do this in a different +bootstrapping our application. We do this with `importScripts`. Additionally, we need to do this in a different file than `app.ts` because our module loader (System.js in this example) has not been loaded yet, and `app.ts` -will be compiled with a System.define call at the top. +will be compiled with a `System.define` call at the top. * The HelloWorld Component looks exactly like a normal Angular2 HelloWorld Component! The goal of WebWorker -support was to allow as much of Angular to live in the worker as possible. +support was to allow as much of Angular to live in the worker as possible. As such, *most* angular2 components can be bootstrapped in a WebWorker with minimal to no changes required. For reference, here's the same HelloWorld example in Dart. @@ -126,37 +126,37 @@ main(List args, SendPort replyTo) { This code is nearly the same as the TypeScript version with just a couple key differences: * We don't have a `loader.js` file. Dart applications don't need this file because you don't need a module loader. * We pass a `SendPort` to `bootstrapWebWorker`. Dart applications use the Isolate API, which communicates via -Dart's Port abstraction. When you call `bootstrap` from the UI thread, angular starts a new Isolate to run -your application logic. When Dart starts a new Isolate it passes a `SendPort` to that Isolate so that it -can communicate with the Isolate that spawned it. You need to pass this `SendPort` to `bootstrapWebWorker` +Dart's Port abstraction. When you call `bootstrap` from the UI thread, angular starts a new Isolate to run +your application logic. When Dart starts a new Isolate it passes a `SendPort` to that Isolate so that it +can communicate with the Isolate that spawned it. You need to pass this `SendPort` to `bootstrapWebWorker` so that Angular can communicate with the UI. -* You need to set up `ReflectionCapabilities` on both the UI and Worker. Just like writing non-concurrent -Angular2 Dart applications you need to set up the reflector. You should not use Reflection in production, -but should use the angular 2 transformer to remove it in your final JS code. Note there's currently a bug +* You need to set up `ReflectionCapabilities` on both the UI and Worker. Just like writing non-concurrent +Angular2 Dart applications you need to set up the reflector. You should not use Reflection in production, +but should use the angular 2 transformer to remove it in your final JS code. Note there's currently a bug with running the transformer on your UI code (#3971). You can (and should) pass the file where you call -`bootstrapWebWorker` as an entry point to the transformer, but you should not pass your UI index file +`bootstrapWebWorker` as an entry point to the transformer, but you should not pass your UI index file to the transformer until that bug is fixed. ## Writing WebWorker Compatible Components -You can do almost everything in a WebWorker component that you can do in a typical Angular 2 Component. -The main exception is that there is **no** DOM access from a WebWorker component. In Dart this means you can't -import anything from `dart:html` and in JavaScript it means you can't use `document` or `window`. Instead you +You can do almost everything in a WebWorker component that you can do in a typical Angular 2 Component. +The main exception is that there is **no** DOM access from a WebWorker component. In Dart this means you can't +import anything from `dart:html` and in JavaScript it means you can't use `document` or `window`. Instead you should use data bindings and if needed you can inject the `Renderer` along with your component's `ElementRef` directly into your component and use methods such as `setElementProperty`, `setElementAttribute`, -`setElementClass`, `setElementStyle`, `invokeElementMethod`, and `setText`. Not that you **cannot** call -`getNativeElementSync`. Doing so will always return `null` when running in a WebWorker. +`setElementClass`, `setElementStyle`, `invokeElementMethod`, and `setText`. Note that you **cannot** call +`getNativeElementSync`. Doing so will always return `null` when running in a WebWorker. If you need DOM access see [Running Code on the UI](#running-code-on-the-ui). ## WebWorker Design Overview When running your application in a WebWorker, the majority of the angular core along with your application logic runs on the worker. The two main components that run on the UI are the `Renderer` and the `RenderCompiler`. When -running angular in a WebWorker the bindings for these two components are replaced by the `WebWorkerRenderer` and -the `WebWorkerRenderCompiler`. When these components are used at runtime, they pass messages through the +running angular in a WebWorker the bindings for these two components are replaced by the `WebWorkerRenderer` and +the `WebWorkerRenderCompiler`. When these components are used at runtime, they pass messages through the [MessageBroker](#messagebroker) instructing the UI to run the actual method and return the result. The [MessageBroker](#messagebroker) abstraction allows either side of the WebWorker boundary to schedule code to run on the opposite side and receive the result. You can use the [MessageBroker](#messagebroker) -Additionally, the [MessageBroker](#messagebroker) sits on top of the [MessageBus](#messagebus). -MessageBus is a low level abstraction that provides a language agnostic API for communicating with angular components across any runtime boundary such as `WebWorker <--> UI` communication, `UI <--> Server` communication, +Additionally, the [MessageBroker](#messagebroker) sits on top of the [MessageBus](#messagebus). +MessageBus is a low level abstraction that provides a language agnostic API for communicating with angular components across any runtime boundary such as `WebWorker <--> UI` communication, `UI <--> Server` communication, or `Window <--> Window` communication. See the diagram below for a high level overview of how this code is structured: @@ -164,9 +164,9 @@ See the diagram below for a high level overview of how this code is structured: ![WebWorker Diagram](http://stanford.edu/~jteplitz/ng_2_worker.png) ## Running Code on the UI -If your application needs to run code on the UI, there are a few options. The easiest way is to use a +If your application needs to run code on the UI, there are a few options. The easiest way is to use a CustomElement in your view. You can then register this custom element from your html file and run code in response -to the element's lifecycle hooks. Note, Custom Elements are still experimental. See +to the element's lifecycle hooks. Note, Custom Elements are still experimental. See [MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Web_Components/Custom_Elements) for the latest details on how to use them. @@ -192,8 +192,8 @@ application running on a server. It's intended to be used with either the `Singl application to run on a server and communicate with a single browser that's running the `WebSocketMessageBus`. 3. The `MultiClientServerMessageBus` is like the `SingleClientServerMessageBus` except it allows an arbitrary number of clients to connect to the server. It keeps all connected browsers in sync and if an event fires in -any connected browser it propagates the result to all connected clients. This can be especially useful as a -debugging tool, by allowing you to connect multiple browsers / devices to the same angular application, +any connected browser it propagates the result to all connected clients. This can be especially useful as a +debugging tool, by allowing you to connect multiple browsers / devices to the same angular application, change the state of that application, and ensure that all the clients render the view correctly. Using these tools can make it easy to catch tricky browser compatibility issues. @@ -277,9 +277,9 @@ class MyComponent { The only substantial difference between these APIs in Dart and TypeScript is the different APIs for the `EventEmitter`. -**Note** Because the messages passed through the MessageBus cross a WebWorker boundary, they must be serializable. +**Note:** Because the messages passed through the MessageBus cross a WebWorker boundary, they must be serializable. If you use the MessageBus directly, you are responsible for serializing your messages. -In JavaScript / TypeScript this means they must be serializable via JavaScript's +In JavaScript / TypeScript this means they must be serializable via JavaScript's [structured cloning algorithim](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Web_Workers_API/Structured_clone_algorithm). In Dart this means they must be valid messages that can be passed through a @@ -287,26 +287,26 @@ In Dart this means they must be valid messages that can be passed through a ### MessageBus and Zones -The MessageBus API includes support for [zones](http://www.github.com/angular/zone.js). +The MessageBus API includes support for [zones](http://www.github.com/angular/zone.js). A MessageBus can be attached to a specific zone (by calling `attachToZone`). Then specific channels can be specified to run in the zone when they are initialized. If a channel is running in the zone, that means that any events emitted from that channel will be executed within the given zone. For example, by default angular runs the EventDispatch channel inside the angular zone. That means when an event is fired from the DOM and received on the WebWorker the event handler automatically runs inside the angular zone. This is desired because after the event handler exits we want to exit the zone so that we trigger -change detection. Generally, you want your channels to run inside the zone unless you have a good reason for why +change detection. Generally, you want your channels to run inside the zone unless you have a good reason for why they need to run outside the zone. ### Implementing and Using a Custom MessageBus -**Note** Implementing and using a Custom MesageBus is experimental and requires importing from private APIs. +**Note:** Implementing and using a Custom MessageBus is experimental and requires importing from private APIs. If you want to drive your application from something other than a WebWorker you can implement a custom message bus. Implementing a custom message bus just means creating a class that fulfills the API specified by the abstract MessageBus class. If you're implementing your MessageBus in Dart you can extend the `GenericMessageBus` class included in angular. -if you do this, you don't need to implement zone or channel support yourself. You only need to implement a -`MessageBusSink` that extends `GenericMessageBusSink` and a `MessageBusSource` that extends +if you do this, you don't need to implement zone or channel support yourself. You only need to implement a +`MessageBusSink` that extends `GenericMessageBusSink` and a `MessageBusSource` that extends `GenericMessageBusSource`. The `MessageBusSink` must override the `sendMessages` method. This method is given a list of serialized messages that it is required to send through the sink. The `MessageBusSource` needs to provide a [Stream](https://api.dartlang.org/1.12.1/dart-async/Stream-class.html) @@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ class JsonMessageBusSink extends GenericMessageBusSink { class JsonMessageBusSource extends GenericMessageBuSource { JsonMessageBusSource(Stream incomingMessages) : super (incomingMessages); - + @override List decodeMessages(dynamic messages) { return JSON.decode(messages); @@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ class JsonMessageBusSource extends GenericMessageBuSource { } ``` -Once you've implemented your custom MessageBus in either TypeScript or Dart you can tell angular to use it like +Once you've implemented your custom MessageBus in either TypeScript or Dart, you can tell angular to use it like so: In TypeScript: ```TypeScript @@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ main() { } ``` Notice how we call `bootstrapUICommon` instead of `bootstrap` from the UI side. `bootstrap` spans a new WebWorker -/ Isolate and attaches the default angular MessageBus to it. If you're using a custom MessageBus you are +/ Isolate and attaches the default angular MessageBus to it. If you're using a custom MessageBus you are responsible for setting up the application side and initiating communication with it. `bootstrapUICommon` assumes that the given MessageBus is already set up and can communicate with the application. Similarly, we call `bootstrapWebWorkerCommon` instead of `boostrapWebWorker` from the application side. This is @@ -390,8 +390,11 @@ because `bootstrapWebWorker` assumes you're using the default angular MessageBus ## MessageBroker The MessageBroker is a higher level messaging abstraction that sits on top of the MessageBus. It is used when you want to execute code on the other side of a runtime boundary and may want to receive the result. -There are two types of MessageBrokers. The `ServiceMessageBroker` is used by the side that actually performs -an operation and may return a result. Conversely, the `ClientMessageBroker` is used by the side that requests that +There are two types of MessageBrokers: + +1. The `ServiceMessageBroker` is used by the side that actually performs +an operation and may return a result; +2. The `ClientMessageBroker` is used by the side that requests that an operation be performed and may want to receive the result. ### Using the MessageBroker In Your Application @@ -422,7 +425,7 @@ from 'angular2/web_worker/worker'; export class MyComponent { constructor(brokerFactory: ClientMessageBrokerFactory) { var broker = brokerFactory.createMessageBroker("My Broker Channel"); - + var arguments = [new FnArg(value, PRIMITIVE)]; var methodInfo = new UiArguments("awesomeMethod", arguments); broker.runOnService(methodInfo, PRIMTIVE).then((result: string) => { @@ -439,7 +442,7 @@ import 'package:angular2/web_worker/ui.dart'; main() { var instance = bootstrap("background.dart"); var broker = instance.app.createServiceMessageBroker("My Broker Channel"); - + // assume we have some function doCoolThings that takes a String argument and returns a Future broker.registerMethod("awesomeMethod", [PRIMITIVE], (String arg1) => doCoolThing(arg1), PRIMITIVE); } @@ -454,7 +457,7 @@ import 'package:angular2/web_worker/worker.dart'; class MyComponent { MyComponent(ClientMessageBrokerFactory brokerFactory) { var broker = brokerFactory.createMessageBroker("My Broker Channel"); - + var arguments = [new FnArg(value, PRIMITIVE)]; var methodInfo = new UiArguments("awesomeMethod", arguments); broker.runOnService(methodInfo, PRIMTIVE).then((String result) { @@ -472,5 +475,5 @@ However, at the moment the serializer only knows how to serialize angular classe If you're passing anything other than those types around in your application you can handle serialization yourself and then use the `PRIMITIVE` type to tell the MessageBroker to avoid serializing your data. -The last thing that happens is that the client calls `runOnService` with the name of the method it wants to run, +The last thing that happens is that the client calls `runOnService` with the name of the method it wants to run, a list of that method's arguments and their types, and (optionally) the expected return type.