Correction to docstring

Closes gh-288

IPython/zmq/kernelmanager.py

@@ -1,909 +1,910 b''
 """Base classes to manage the interaction with a running kernel.
 
 TODO
 * Create logger to handle debugging and console messages.
 """
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #  Copyright (C) 2008-2010  The IPython Development Team
 #
 #  Distributed under the terms of the BSD License.  The full license is in
 #  the file COPYING, distributed as part of this software.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # Standard library imports.
 import atexit
 from Queue import Queue, Empty
 from subprocess import Popen
 import signal
 import sys
 from threading import Thread
 import time
 import logging
 
 # System library imports.
 import zmq
 from zmq import POLLIN, POLLOUT, POLLERR
 from zmq.eventloop import ioloop
 
 # Local imports.
 from IPython.utils import io
 from IPython.utils.localinterfaces import LOCALHOST, LOCAL_IPS
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import HasTraits, Any, Instance, Type, TCPAddress
 from session import Session, Message
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Constants and exceptions
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 class InvalidPortNumber(Exception):
     pass
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Utility functions
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # some utilities to validate message structure, these might get moved elsewhere
 # if they prove to have more generic utility
 
 def validate_string_list(lst):
     """Validate that the input is a list of strings.
 
     Raises ValueError if not."""
     if not isinstance(lst, list):
         raise ValueError('input %r must be a list' % lst)
     for x in lst:
         if not isinstance(x, basestring):
             raise ValueError('element %r in list must be a string' % x)
 
 
 def validate_string_dict(dct):
     """Validate that the input is a dict with string keys and values.
 
     Raises ValueError if not."""
     for k,v in dct.iteritems():
         if not isinstance(k, basestring):
             raise ValueError('key %r in dict must be a string' % k)
         if not isinstance(v, basestring):
             raise ValueError('value %r in dict must be a string' % v)
 
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # ZMQ Socket Channel classes
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 class ZmqSocketChannel(Thread):
     """The base class for the channels that use ZMQ sockets.
     """
     context = None
     session = None
     socket = None
     ioloop = None
     iostate = None
     _address = None
 
     def __init__(self, context, session, address):
         """Create a channel
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         context : :class:`zmq.Context`
             The ZMQ context to use.
         session : :class:`session.Session`
             The session to use.
         address : tuple
             Standard (ip, port) tuple that the kernel is listening on.
         """
         super(ZmqSocketChannel, self).__init__()
         self.daemon = True
 
         self.context = context
         self.session = session
         if address[1] == 0:
             message = 'The port number for a channel cannot be 0.'
             raise InvalidPortNumber(message)
         self._address = address
 
     def stop(self):
         """Stop the channel's activity.
 
         This calls :method:`Thread.join` and returns when the thread
         terminates. :class:`RuntimeError` will be raised if 
         :method:`self.start` is called again.
         """
         self.join()
 
     @property
     def address(self):
         """Get the channel's address as an (ip, port) tuple.
         
         By the default, the address is (localhost, 0), where 0 means a random
         port.
         """
         return self._address
 
     def add_io_state(self, state):
         """Add IO state to the eventloop.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         state : zmq.POLLIN|zmq.POLLOUT|zmq.POLLERR
             The IO state flag to set.
 
         This is thread safe as it uses the thread safe IOLoop.add_callback.
         """
         def add_io_state_callback():
             if not self.iostate & state:
                 self.iostate = self.iostate | state
                 self.ioloop.update_handler(self.socket, self.iostate)
         self.ioloop.add_callback(add_io_state_callback)
 
     def drop_io_state(self, state):
         """Drop IO state from the eventloop.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         state : zmq.POLLIN|zmq.POLLOUT|zmq.POLLERR
             The IO state flag to set.
 
         This is thread safe as it uses the thread safe IOLoop.add_callback.
         """
         def drop_io_state_callback():
             if self.iostate & state:
                 self.iostate = self.iostate & (~state)
                 self.ioloop.update_handler(self.socket, self.iostate)
         self.ioloop.add_callback(drop_io_state_callback)
 
 
 class XReqSocketChannel(ZmqSocketChannel):
     """The XREQ channel for issues request/replies to the kernel.
     """
 
     command_queue = None
 
     def __init__(self, context, session, address):
         super(XReqSocketChannel, self).__init__(context, session, address)
         self.command_queue = Queue()
         self.ioloop = ioloop.IOLoop()
 
     def run(self):
         """The thread's main activity.  Call start() instead."""
         self.socket = self.context.socket(zmq.XREQ)
         self.socket.setsockopt(zmq.IDENTITY, self.session.session)
         self.socket.connect('tcp://%s:%i' % self.address)
         self.iostate = POLLERR|POLLIN
         self.ioloop.add_handler(self.socket, self._handle_events, 
                                 self.iostate)
         self.ioloop.start()
 
     def stop(self):
         self.ioloop.stop()
         super(XReqSocketChannel, self).stop()
 
     def call_handlers(self, msg):
         """This method is called in the ioloop thread when a message arrives.
 
         Subclasses should override this method to handle incoming messages.
         It is important to remember that this method is called in the thread
         so that some logic must be done to ensure that the application leve
         handlers are called in the application thread.
         """
         raise NotImplementedError('call_handlers must be defined in a subclass.')
 
     def execute(self, code, silent=False,
                 user_variables=None, user_expressions=None):
         """Execute code in the kernel.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         code : str
             A string of Python code.
             
         silent : bool, optional (default False)
             If set, the kernel will execute the code as quietly possible.
 
         user_variables : list, optional
             A list of variable names to pull from the user's namespace.  They
             will come back as a dict with these names as keys and their
             :func:`repr` as values.
             
         user_expressions : dict, optional
             A dict with string keys and  to pull from the user's
             namespace.  They will come back as a dict with these names as keys
             and their :func:`repr` as values.
 
         Returns
         -------
         The msg_id of the message sent.
         """
         if user_variables is None:
             user_variables = []
         if user_expressions is None:
             user_expressions = {}
             
         # Don't waste network traffic if inputs are invalid
         if not isinstance(code, basestring):
             raise ValueError('code %r must be a string' % code)
         validate_string_list(user_variables)
         validate_string_dict(user_expressions)
 
         # Create class for content/msg creation. Related to, but possibly
         # not in Session.
         content = dict(code=code, silent=silent,
                        user_variables=user_variables,
                        user_expressions=user_expressions)
         msg = self.session.msg('execute_request', content)
         self._queue_request(msg)
         return msg['header']['msg_id']
 
     def complete(self, text, line, cursor_pos, block=None):
         """Tab complete text in the kernel's namespace.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         text : str
             The text to complete.
         line : str
             The full line of text that is the surrounding context for the 
             text to complete.
         cursor_pos : int
             The position of the cursor in the line where the completion was
             requested.
         block : str, optional
             The full block of code in which the completion is being requested.
 
         Returns
         -------
         The msg_id of the message sent.
         """
         content = dict(text=text, line=line, block=block, cursor_pos=cursor_pos)
         msg = self.session.msg('complete_request', content)
         self._queue_request(msg)
         return msg['header']['msg_id']
 
     def object_info(self, oname):
         """Get metadata information about an object.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         oname : str
             A string specifying the object name.
         
         Returns
         -------
         The msg_id of the message sent.
         """
         content = dict(oname=oname)
         msg = self.session.msg('object_info_request', content)
         self._queue_request(msg)
         return msg['header']['msg_id']
 
     def history(self, index=None, raw=False, output=True):
         """Get the history list.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         index : n or (n1, n2) or None
             If n, then the last entries. If a tuple, then all in
             range(n1, n2). If None, then all entries. Raises IndexError if
             the format of index is incorrect.
         raw : bool
             If True, return the raw input.
         output : bool
             If True, then return the output as well.
 
         Returns
         -------
         The msg_id of the message sent.
         """
         content = dict(index=index, raw=raw, output=output)
         msg = self.session.msg('history_request', content)
         self._queue_request(msg)
         return msg['header']['msg_id']
 
     def shutdown(self, restart=False):
         """Request an immediate kernel shutdown.
 
         Upon receipt of the (empty) reply, client code can safely assume that
         the kernel has shut down and it's safe to forcefully terminate it if
         it's still alive.
 
         The kernel will send the reply via a function registered with Python's
         atexit module, ensuring it's truly done as the kernel is done with all
         normal operation.
         """
         # Send quit message to kernel. Once we implement kernel-side setattr,
         # this should probably be done that way, but for now this will do.
         msg = self.session.msg('shutdown_request', {'restart':restart})
         self._queue_request(msg)
         return msg['header']['msg_id']
 
     def _handle_events(self, socket, events):
         if events & POLLERR:
             self._handle_err()
         if events & POLLOUT:
             self._handle_send()
         if events & POLLIN:
             self._handle_recv()
 
     def _handle_recv(self):
         ident,msg = self.session.recv(self.socket, 0)
         self.call_handlers(msg)
 
     def _handle_send(self):
         try:
             msg = self.command_queue.get(False)
         except Empty:
             pass
         else:
             self.session.send(self.socket,msg)
         if self.command_queue.empty():
             self.drop_io_state(POLLOUT)
 
     def _handle_err(self):
         # We don't want to let this go silently, so eventually we should log.
         raise zmq.ZMQError()
 
     def _queue_request(self, msg):
         self.command_queue.put(msg)
         self.add_io_state(POLLOUT)
 
 
 class SubSocketChannel(ZmqSocketChannel):
     """The SUB channel which listens for messages that the kernel publishes.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, context, session, address):
         super(SubSocketChannel, self).__init__(context, session, address)
         self.ioloop = ioloop.IOLoop()
 
     def run(self):
         """The thread's main activity.  Call start() instead."""
         self.socket = self.context.socket(zmq.SUB)
         self.socket.setsockopt(zmq.SUBSCRIBE,'')
         self.socket.setsockopt(zmq.IDENTITY, self.session.session)
         self.socket.connect('tcp://%s:%i' % self.address)
         self.iostate = POLLIN|POLLERR
         self.ioloop.add_handler(self.socket, self._handle_events, 
                                 self.iostate)
         self.ioloop.start()
 
     def stop(self):
         self.ioloop.stop()
         super(SubSocketChannel, self).stop()
 
     def call_handlers(self, msg):
         """This method is called in the ioloop thread when a message arrives.
 
         Subclasses should override this method to handle incoming messages.
         It is important to remember that this method is called in the thread
         so that some logic must be done to ensure that the application leve
         handlers are called in the application thread.
         """
         raise NotImplementedError('call_handlers must be defined in a subclass.')
 
     def flush(self, timeout=1.0):
         """Immediately processes all pending messages on the SUB channel.
 
         Callers should use this method to ensure that :method:`call_handlers`
         has been called for all messages that have been received on the
         0MQ SUB socket of this channel.
 
         This method is thread safe.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         timeout : float, optional
             The maximum amount of time to spend flushing, in seconds. The
             default is one second.
         """
         # We do the IOLoop callback process twice to ensure that the IOLoop
         # gets to perform at least one full poll.
         stop_time = time.time() + timeout
         for i in xrange(2):
             self._flushed = False
             self.ioloop.add_callback(self._flush)
             while not self._flushed and time.time() < stop_time:
                 time.sleep(0.01)
 
     def _handle_events(self, socket, events):
         # Turn on and off POLLOUT depending on if we have made a request
         if events & POLLERR:
             self._handle_err()
         if events & POLLIN:
             self._handle_recv()
 
     def _handle_err(self):
         # We don't want to let this go silently, so eventually we should log.
         raise zmq.ZMQError()
 
     def _handle_recv(self):
         # Get all of the messages we can
         while True:
             try:
                 ident,msg = self.session.recv(self.socket)
             except zmq.ZMQError:
                 # Check the errno?
                 # Will this trigger POLLERR?
                 break
             else:
                 if msg is None:
                     break
                 self.call_handlers(msg)
 
     def _flush(self):
         """Callback for :method:`self.flush`."""
         self._flushed = True
 
 
 class RepSocketChannel(ZmqSocketChannel):
     """A reply channel to handle raw_input requests that the kernel makes."""
 
     msg_queue = None
 
     def __init__(self, context, session, address):
         super(RepSocketChannel, self).__init__(context, session, address)
         self.ioloop = ioloop.IOLoop()
         self.msg_queue = Queue()
 
     def run(self):
         """The thread's main activity.  Call start() instead."""
         self.socket = self.context.socket(zmq.XREQ)
         self.socket.setsockopt(zmq.IDENTITY, self.session.session)
         self.socket.connect('tcp://%s:%i' % self.address)
         self.iostate = POLLERR|POLLIN
         self.ioloop.add_handler(self.socket, self._handle_events, 
                                 self.iostate)
         self.ioloop.start()
 
     def stop(self):
         self.ioloop.stop()
         super(RepSocketChannel, self).stop()
 
     def call_handlers(self, msg):
         """This method is called in the ioloop thread when a message arrives.
 
         Subclasses should override this method to handle incoming messages.
         It is important to remember that this method is called in the thread
         so that some logic must be done to ensure that the application leve
         handlers are called in the application thread.
         """
         raise NotImplementedError('call_handlers must be defined in a subclass.')
 
     def input(self, string):
         """Send a string of raw input to the kernel."""
         content = dict(value=string)
         msg = self.session.msg('input_reply', content)
         self._queue_reply(msg)
 
     def _handle_events(self, socket, events):
         if events & POLLERR:
             self._handle_err()
         if events & POLLOUT:
             self._handle_send()
         if events & POLLIN:
             self._handle_recv()
 
     def _handle_recv(self):
         ident,msg = self.session.recv(self.socket, 0)
         self.call_handlers(msg)
 
     def _handle_send(self):
         try:
             msg = self.msg_queue.get(False)
         except Empty:
             pass
         else:
             self.session.send(self.socket,msg)
         if self.msg_queue.empty():
             self.drop_io_state(POLLOUT)
 
     def _handle_err(self):
         # We don't want to let this go silently, so eventually we should log.
         raise zmq.ZMQError()
 
     def _queue_reply(self, msg):
         self.msg_queue.put(msg)
         self.add_io_state(POLLOUT)
 
 
 class HBSocketChannel(ZmqSocketChannel):
     """The heartbeat channel which monitors the kernel heartbeat.
 
     Note that the heartbeat channel is paused by default. As long as you start
     this channel, the kernel manager will ensure that it is paused and un-paused
     as appropriate.
     """
 
     time_to_dead = 3.0
     socket = None
     poller = None
     _running = None
     _pause = None
 
     def __init__(self, context, session, address):
         super(HBSocketChannel, self).__init__(context, session, address)
         self._running = False
         self._pause = True
 
     def _create_socket(self):
         self.socket = self.context.socket(zmq.REQ)
         self.socket.setsockopt(zmq.IDENTITY, self.session.session)
         self.socket.connect('tcp://%s:%i' % self.address)
         self.poller = zmq.Poller()
         self.poller.register(self.socket, zmq.POLLIN)
 
     def run(self):
         """The thread's main activity.  Call start() instead."""
         self._create_socket()
         self._running = True
         while self._running:
             if self._pause:
                 time.sleep(self.time_to_dead)
             else:
                 since_last_heartbeat = 0.0
                 request_time = time.time()
                 try:
                     #io.rprint('Ping from HB channel') # dbg
                     self.socket.send(b'ping')
                 except zmq.ZMQError, e:
                     #io.rprint('*** HB Error:', e) # dbg
                     if e.errno == zmq.EFSM:
                         #io.rprint('sleep...', self.time_to_dead) # dbg
                         time.sleep(self.time_to_dead)
                         self._create_socket()
                     else:
                         raise
                 else:
                     while True:
                         try:
                             self.socket.recv(zmq.NOBLOCK)
                         except zmq.ZMQError, e:
                             #io.rprint('*** HB Error 2:', e) # dbg
                             if e.errno == zmq.EAGAIN:
                                 before_poll = time.time()
                                 until_dead = self.time_to_dead - (before_poll -
                                                                   request_time)
 
                                 # When the return value of poll() is an empty
                                 # list, that is when things have gone wrong
                                 # (zeromq bug). As long as it is not an empty
                                 # list, poll is working correctly even if it
                                 # returns quickly. Note: poll timeout is in
                                 # milliseconds.
                                 self.poller.poll(1000*until_dead)
                             
                                 since_last_heartbeat = time.time()-request_time
                                 if since_last_heartbeat > self.time_to_dead:
                                     self.call_handlers(since_last_heartbeat)
                                     break
                             else:
                                 # FIXME: We should probably log this instead.
                                 raise
                         else:
                             until_dead = self.time_to_dead - (time.time() -
                                                               request_time)
                             if until_dead > 0.0:
                                 #io.rprint('sleep...', self.time_to_dead) # dbg
                                 time.sleep(until_dead)
                             break
 
     def pause(self):
         """Pause the heartbeat."""
         self._pause = True
 
     def unpause(self):
         """Unpause the heartbeat."""
         self._pause = False
 
     def is_beating(self):
         """Is the heartbeat running and not paused."""
         if self.is_alive() and not self._pause:
             return True
         else:
             return False
 
     def stop(self):
         self._running = False
         super(HBSocketChannel, self).stop()
 
     def call_handlers(self, since_last_heartbeat):
         """This method is called in the ioloop thread when a message arrives.
 
         Subclasses should override this method to handle incoming messages.
         It is important to remember that this method is called in the thread
         so that some logic must be done to ensure that the application leve
         handlers are called in the application thread.
         """
         raise NotImplementedError('call_handlers must be defined in a subclass.')
 
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Main kernel manager class
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 class KernelManager(HasTraits):
     """ Manages a kernel for a frontend.
 
     The SUB channel is for the frontend to receive messages published by the
     kernel.
         
     The REQ channel is for the frontend to make requests of the kernel.
     
     The REP channel is for the kernel to request stdin (raw_input) from the
     frontend.
     """
     # The PyZMQ Context to use for communication with the kernel.
     context = Instance(zmq.Context,(),{})
 
     # The Session to use for communication with the kernel.
     session = Instance(Session,(),{})
 
     # The kernel process with which the KernelManager is communicating.
     kernel = Instance(Popen)
 
     # The addresses for the communication channels. 
     xreq_address = TCPAddress((LOCALHOST, 0))
     sub_address = TCPAddress((LOCALHOST, 0))
     rep_address = TCPAddress((LOCALHOST, 0))
     hb_address = TCPAddress((LOCALHOST, 0))
 
     # The classes to use for the various channels.
     xreq_channel_class = Type(XReqSocketChannel)
     sub_channel_class = Type(SubSocketChannel)
     rep_channel_class = Type(RepSocketChannel)
     hb_channel_class = Type(HBSocketChannel)
 
     # Protected traits.
     _launch_args = Any
     _xreq_channel = Any
     _sub_channel = Any
     _rep_channel = Any
     _hb_channel = Any
 
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         super(KernelManager, self).__init__(**kwargs)
         # Uncomment this to try closing the context.
         # atexit.register(self.context.close)
 
     #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Channel management methods:
     #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     def start_channels(self, xreq=True, sub=True, rep=True, hb=True):
         """Starts the channels for this kernel.
 
         This will create the channels if they do not exist and then start
         them. If port numbers of 0 are being used (random ports) then you
         must first call :method:`start_kernel`. If the channels have been
         stopped and you call this, :class:`RuntimeError` will be raised.
         """
         if xreq:
             self.xreq_channel.start()
         if sub:
             self.sub_channel.start()
         if rep:
             self.rep_channel.start()
         if hb:
             self.hb_channel.start()
 
     def stop_channels(self):
         """Stops all the running channels for this kernel.
         """
         if self.xreq_channel.is_alive():
             self.xreq_channel.stop()
         if self.sub_channel.is_alive():
             self.sub_channel.stop()
         if self.rep_channel.is_alive():
             self.rep_channel.stop()
         if self.hb_channel.is_alive():
             self.hb_channel.stop()
 
     @property
     def channels_running(self):
         """Are any of the channels created and running?"""
         return (self.xreq_channel.is_alive() or self.sub_channel.is_alive() or
                 self.rep_channel.is_alive() or self.hb_channel.is_alive())
 
     #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Kernel process management methods:
     #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     def start_kernel(self, **kw):
         """Starts a kernel process and configures the manager to use it.
 
         If random ports (port=0) are being used, this method must be called
         before the channels are created.
 
         Parameters:
         -----------
         ipython : bool, optional (default True)
              Whether to use an IPython kernel instead of a plain Python kernel.
         """
         xreq, sub, rep, hb = self.xreq_address, self.sub_address, \
             self.rep_address, self.hb_address
         if xreq[0] not in LOCAL_IPS or sub[0] not in LOCAL_IPS or \
                 rep[0] not in LOCAL_IPS or hb[0] not in LOCAL_IPS:
             raise RuntimeError("Can only launch a kernel on a local interface. "
                                "Make sure that the '*_address' attributes are "
                                "configured properly. "
                                "Currently valid addresses are: %s"%LOCAL_IPS
                                )
                     
         self._launch_args = kw.copy()
         if kw.pop('ipython', True):
             from ipkernel import launch_kernel
         else:
             from pykernel import launch_kernel
         self.kernel, xrep, pub, req, _hb = launch_kernel(
             xrep_port=xreq[1], pub_port=sub[1], 
             req_port=rep[1], hb_port=hb[1], **kw)
         self.xreq_address = (xreq[0], xrep)
         self.sub_address = (sub[0], pub)
         self.rep_address = (rep[0], req)
         self.hb_address = (hb[0], _hb)
 
     def shutdown_kernel(self, restart=False):
         """ Attempts to the stop the kernel process cleanly. If the kernel
         cannot be stopped, it is killed, if possible.
         """
         # FIXME: Shutdown does not work on Windows due to ZMQ errors!
         if sys.platform == 'win32':
             self.kill_kernel()
             return
 
         # Pause the heart beat channel if it exists.
         if self._hb_channel is not None:
             self._hb_channel.pause()
 
         # Don't send any additional kernel kill messages immediately, to give
         # the kernel a chance to properly execute shutdown actions. Wait for at
         # most 1s, checking every 0.1s.
         self.xreq_channel.shutdown(restart=restart)
         for i in range(10):
             if self.is_alive:
                 time.sleep(0.1)
             else:
                 break
         else:
             # OK, we've waited long enough.
             if self.has_kernel:
                 self.kill_kernel()
     
     def restart_kernel(self, now=False):
         """Restarts a kernel with the same arguments that were used to launch
         it. If the old kernel was launched with random ports, the same ports
         will be used for the new kernel.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         now : bool, optional
           If True, the kernel is forcefully restarted *immediately*, without
           having a chance to do any cleanup action.  Otherwise the kernel is
           given 1s to clean up before a forceful restart is issued.
 
           In all cases the kernel is restarted, the only difference is whether
           it is given a chance to perform a clean shutdown or not.
         """
         if self._launch_args is None:
             raise RuntimeError("Cannot restart the kernel. "
                                "No previous call to 'start_kernel'.")
         else:
             if self.has_kernel:
                 if now:
                     self.kill_kernel()
                 else:
                     self.shutdown_kernel(restart=True)
             self.start_kernel(**self._launch_args)
 
             # FIXME: Messages get dropped in Windows due to probable ZMQ bug
             # unless there is some delay here.
             if sys.platform == 'win32':
                 time.sleep(0.2)
 
     @property
     def has_kernel(self):
         """Returns whether a kernel process has been specified for the kernel
         manager.
         """
         return self.kernel is not None
 
     def kill_kernel(self):
         """ Kill the running kernel. """
         if self.has_kernel:
             # Pause the heart beat channel if it exists.
             if self._hb_channel is not None:
                 self._hb_channel.pause()
 
             # Attempt to kill the kernel.
             try:
                 self.kernel.kill()
             except OSError, e:
                 # In Windows, we will get an Access Denied error if the process
                 # has already terminated. Ignore it.
                 if not (sys.platform == 'win32' and e.winerror == 5):
                     raise
             self.kernel = None
         else:
             raise RuntimeError("Cannot kill kernel. No kernel is running!")
 
     def interrupt_kernel(self):
         """ Interrupts the kernel. Unlike ``signal_kernel``, this operation is
         well supported on all platforms.
         """
         if self.has_kernel:
             if sys.platform == 'win32':
                 from parentpoller import ParentPollerWindows as Poller
                 Poller.send_interrupt(self.kernel.win32_interrupt_event)
             else:
                 self.kernel.send_signal(signal.SIGINT)
         else:
             raise RuntimeError("Cannot interrupt kernel. No kernel is running!")
 
     def signal_kernel(self, signum):
         """ Sends a signal to the kernel. Note that since only SIGTERM is
         supported on Windows, this function is only useful on Unix systems.
         """
         if self.has_kernel:
             self.kernel.send_signal(signum)
         else:
             raise RuntimeError("Cannot signal kernel. No kernel is running!")
 
     @property
     def is_alive(self):
         """Is the kernel process still running?"""
         # FIXME: not using a heartbeat means this method is broken for any
         # remote kernel, it's only capable of handling local kernels.
         if self.has_kernel:
             if self.kernel.poll() is None:
                 return True
             else:
                 return False
         else:
             # We didn't start the kernel with this KernelManager so we don't
             # know if it is running. We should use a heartbeat for this case.
             return True
 
     #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Channels used for communication with the kernel:
     #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     @property
     def xreq_channel(self):
         """Get the REQ socket channel object to make requests of the kernel."""
         if self._xreq_channel is None:
             self._xreq_channel = self.xreq_channel_class(self.context, 
                                                          self.session,
                                                          self.xreq_address)
         return self._xreq_channel
 
     @property
     def sub_channel(self):
         """Get the SUB socket channel object."""
         if self._sub_channel is None:
             self._sub_channel = self.sub_channel_class(self.context,
                                                        self.session,
                                                        self.sub_address)
         return self._sub_channel
 
     @property
     def rep_channel(self):
         """Get the REP socket channel object to handle stdin (raw_input)."""
         if self._rep_channel is None:
             self._rep_channel = self.rep_channel_class(self.context, 
                                                        self.session,
                                                        self.rep_address)
         return self._rep_channel
 
     @property
     def hb_channel(self):
-        """Get the REP socket channel object to handle stdin (raw_input)."""
+        """Get the heartbeat socket channel object to check that the
+        kernel is alive."""
         if self._hb_channel is None:
             self._hb_channel = self.hb_channel_class(self.context, 
                                                        self.session,
                                                        self.hb_address)
         return self._hb_channel