handle targets='all' in remotefunction

* add explanation of lazy evaluation of 'all' to direct_view docstring
* previously failing test included

closes gh-986

IPython/parallel/client/client.py

@@ -1032,8 +1032,14 b' class Client(HasTraits):'
     def direct_view(self, targets='all'):
         """construct a DirectView object.
 
-        If no targets are specified, create a DirectView
-        using all engines.
+        If no targets are specified, create a DirectView using all engines.
+        
+        rc.direct_view('all') is distinguished from rc[:] in that 'all' will
+        evaluate the target engines at each execution, whereas rc[:] will connect to
+        all *current* engines, and that list will not change.
+        
+        That is, 'all' will always use all engines, whereas rc[:] will not use
+        engines added after the DirectView is constructed.
 
         Parameters
         ----------

IPython/parallel/client/remotefunction.py

@@ -140,6 +140,8 b' class ParallelFunction(RemoteFunction):'
         self.mapObject = mapClass()
 
     def __call__(self, *sequences):
+        client = self.view.client
+        
         # check that the length of sequences match
         len_0 = len(sequences[0])
         for s in sequences:
@@ -158,11 +160,12 b' class ParallelFunction(RemoteFunction):'
                 warnings.warn("`chunksize` is ignored unless load balancing", UserWarning)
             # multiplexed:
             targets = self.view.targets
+            # 'all' is lazily evaluated at execution time, which is now:
+            if targets == 'all':
+                targets = client._build_targets(targets)[1]
             nparts = len(targets)
 
         msg_ids = []
-        # my_f = lambda *a: map(self.func, *a)
-        client = self.view.client
         for index, t in enumerate(targets):
             args = []
             for seq in sequences:

IPython/parallel/tests/test_client.py

@@ -79,7 +79,7 b' class TestClient(ClusterTestCase):'
         self.assertEquals(v.targets, None)
     
     def test_dview_targets(self):
-        """test load_balanced_view targets"""
+        """test direct_view targets"""
         v = self.client.direct_view()
         self.assertEquals(v.targets, 'all')
         v = self.client.direct_view('all')
@@ -87,6 +87,41 b' class TestClient(ClusterTestCase):'
         v = self.client.direct_view(-1)
         self.assertEquals(v.targets, self.client.ids[-1])
     
+    def test_lazy_all_targets(self):
+        """test lazy evaluation of rc.direct_view('all')"""
+        v = self.client.direct_view()
+        self.assertEquals(v.targets, 'all')
+        
+        def double(x):
+            return x*2
+        seq = range(100)
+        ref = [ double(x) for x in seq ]
+        
+        # add some engines, which should be used
+        self.add_engines(2)
+        n1 = len(self.client.ids)
+        
+        # simple apply
+        r = v.apply_sync(lambda : 1)
+        self.assertEquals(r, [1] * n1)
+        
+        # map goes through remotefunction
+        r = v.map_sync(double, seq)
+        self.assertEquals(r, ref)
+
+        # add a couple more engines, and try again
+        self.add_engines(2)
+        n2 = len(self.client.ids)
+        self.assertNotEquals(n2, n1)
+        
+        # apply
+        r = v.apply_sync(lambda : 1)
+        self.assertEquals(r, [1] * n2)
+        
+        # map
+        r = v.map_sync(double, seq)
+        self.assertEquals(r, ref)
+    
     def test_targets(self):
         """test various valid targets arguments"""
         build = self.client._build_targets