The purpose is two-fold:
1. to be able to specify a pointer directly when user data is used
When using `mrb_protect()`, it is necessary to allocate objects by `mrb_obj_cptr()` function when using user data.
Adding `mrb_protect_raw()` will make it simpler to reimplement `mrbgems/mruby-error`.
2. to correctly unwind callinfo when an exception is raised from a C function defined as a method (the main topic)
If a method call is made directly under `mrb_protect()` and a C function is called, control is returned from `mrb_protect()` if an exception occurs there.
In this case, callinfo is not restored, so it is out of sync.
Moreover, returning to mruby VM (`mrb_vm_exec()` function) in this state will indicate `ci->pc` of C function which is equal to `NULL`, and subsequent `JUMP` will cause `SIGSEGV`.
Following is an example that actually causes `SIGSEGV`:
- `crash.c`
```c
#include <mruby.h>
#include <mruby/compile.h>
#include <mruby/error.h>
static mrb_value
level1_body(mrb_state *mrb, mrb_value self)
{
return mrb_funcall(mrb, self, "level2", 0);
}
static mrb_value
level1(mrb_state *mrb, mrb_value self)
{
return mrb_protect(mrb, level1_body, self, NULL);
}
static mrb_value
level2(mrb_state *mrb, mrb_value self)
{
mrb_raise(mrb, E_RUNTIME_ERROR, "error!");
return mrb_nil_value();
}
int
main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
mrb_state *mrb = mrb_open();
mrb_define_method(mrb, mrb->object_class, "level1", level1, MRB_ARGS_NONE());
mrb_define_method(mrb, mrb->object_class, "level2", level2, MRB_ARGS_NONE());
mrb_p(mrb, mrb_load_string(mrb, "p level1"));
mrb_close(mrb);
return 0;
}
```
- compile & run
```console
% `bin/mruby-config --cc --cflags --ldflags` crash.c `bin/mruby-config --libs`
% ./a.out
zsh: segmentation fault (core dumped) ./a.out
```
After applying this patch, it will print exception object and exit normally.
The `mrb_protect()`, `mrb_ensure()` and `mrb_rescue_exceptions()` in `mrbgems/mruby-error` have been rewritten using `mrb_protect_raw()`.
Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto