L18-core-remove-grpc-alarm.md

Delete grpc_alarm from gRPC core API

• Author(s): vjpai
• Approver: a11r
• Status: Approved
• Implemented in: grpc/grpc#14015
• Last updated: January 14, 2018
• Discussion at: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/grpc-io/ikqxu_dzqQs

Abstract

Remove struct grpc_alarm and grpc_alarm_* functions from the core API

Background

grpc::Alarm was introduced as a gRPC C++ API to inject completion queue events at specified times because it was observed to be difficult to manage timing-based code in the asynchronous API. This was implemented by creating a matching grpc_alarm in core which internally used the existing grpc_timer as its implementation; the grpc::Alarm in C++ was only a thin wrapping around grpc_alarm.

Related Proposals:

This is related to the overall project of de-wrapping C++.

Proposal

• Remove grpc_alarm and related functions from gRPC Core.
• Re-implement grpc::Alarm by directly invoking gRPC Core sub-surface features such as grpc_timer

Rationale

grpc::Alarm has been used by external projects. However, grpc_alarm has not been used even by any wrapped language beside C++. Thus, it is not needed in core, and removing it from core allows additional flexibility in its C++ implementation.

Implementation

grpc/grpc#14015 implements this change.

Open issues (if applicable)

N/A